Youngstown, Ohio – Youngstown State erased a nine-point halftime deficit and outscored Akron in the second half by 15 enroute to an 84-78 victory over the Zips in an exhibition game on Wednesday evening at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center.

Junior Tae Blackshear led the Penguins with 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field with four 3-pointers while Bryson Dawkins scored 16 points and Imanuel Zorgvol posted 13 points.

After trialing by as many as 11 points late in the first half, Youngstown State used a 14-8 run in the first five minutes of the second half to get within three, 52-49, at the 15:56 mark. Dawkins began the run with back-to-back 3-pointers followed by a putback by Tyler Robinett, a 3-pointer from Rich Rolf and a 3-pointer by Robinett.

The Zips regained an eight-point advantage, 58-50, but the Penguins went on a 9-2 run capped by a 3-pointer by Zorgvol to cut the lead down to one 60-59 with 11:27 to go.

Dawkins tied the game at 63-63 with a driving layup and Jason Nelson split a pair of free throws to give the Penguins their first lead, 64-63, at the 7:11 mark.

Akron recaptured a 68-65 lead with 5:45 remaining, but the Penguins outscored the Zips, 14-2, over the next 4:34 to take an insurmountable 79-70 lead with just 1:11 left.

Youngstown State shot 40.6 percent in the first half compared to 47.8 percent in the second half, and, after allowing the Zips to shoot 64 percent in the first half, limited Akron to a 35.5 field-goal percentage after the intermission.

The Penguins also forced 17 turnovers and scored 23 points off of those miscue.

Youngstown State opens the 2025-26 campaign at Pittsburgh, Monday, Nov. 3. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Petersen Events Center.