Dayton, Ohio – The Youngstown State men's basketball team overcame a double-digit first-half deficit and outscored Wright State by 15 in the second half to post an 80-70 win on Wednesday evening at the Nutter Center.
The Penguins, who have won five straight games, improve to 7-5 overall and 3-0 in Horizon League play while the Raiders fall to 7-6 overall and 1-2 in league play. This marks just the second time in program history Youngstown State won its first three games Horizon League action. The last time was in 2017-18.
Senior Ty Harper scored 14 of his team-high 16 points in the second half to lead the Penguins, who won for the fifth consecutive time over the Raiders. Junior Jason Nelson scored a season-high 15 points while Cris Carroll and Gabe Dynes each added 10 points.
Nico Galette turned in another all-around performance with nine points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
The Penguins scored 10 straight points as part of a 14-1 run over a 3:42 span late in the second half to turn a three-point deficit, 65-62, into a 76-66 advantage with just a minute remaining.
Harper, who made a season-high three 3-pointers, tied the game at 65-65 with his second 3-pointer of the game and Dynes' dunk gave the Penguins a 67-65 lead at the 3:38 mark. Harper hit a jumper and another 3-pointer to push the Penguins lead to seven, 72-65.
After a Raider charity toss, Nelson, and senior EJ Farmer each made a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 10, 76-66, with one minute remaining and sealed the game.
Youngstown State fell behind by as many as 12 points, 21-9, early in the first half and twice trimmed the lead down to one before the Raiders took a 40-35 lead into the locker room at halftime.
The Penguins scored the first seven points of the second half to take a 42-40 lead, but the Raiders scored the next seven points to regain a 47-42 advantage at the 16:27 mark.
The two teams battled through five more ties over the next nine minutes before the Penguins late spurt.
Youngstown State made 10 3-pointers and committed just seven turnovers while scored 19 points off 14 Wright State miscues.
The Penguins visit USC-Upstate, Saturday, Dec. 21. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. in Spartanburg, S.C.
