Youngstown, Ohio – Senior Cris Carroll scored a game-high 27 points to lead the Youngstown State men's basketball team to a 74-65 win over USC Upstate on Saturday afternoon at Zidian Family Arena.

Carroll connected on 8-of-16 shooting from the field with three 3-pointers and led the Penguins with seven rebounds and five assists.

Vlad Salaridze was the only other YSU player in double figures scoring 14 points off the bench.

Youngstown State extended its home winning streak to seven, dating back to last season, and improved to 8-5 overall. USC Upstate falls to 8-7 on the year.

The Penguins built a double-digit lead eight minutes into the game when Salaridze buried a 3-pointer at the 12:18 mark to take a 23-13 lead.

A basket by Jason Nelson and a 3-pointer from Tae Blackshear gave the Penguins a game-high 15-point advantage, 28-13, with just under 11 minutes left in the first half.

The Spartans went on a 13-5 run to trim the YSU lead down to seven, 33-26, with 1:52 to go, but Carroll hit a jumper, made two free throws and buried a 3-pointer to give the Penguins a 40-28 lead at the intermission.

Youngstown State missed its first six shots and one of its first seven to open the second half while and the Spartans were able to cut the Penguins lead down to three, 47-44, with 12:39 remaining.

A three-point play by Blackshear sparked a 13-5 YSU run as the Penguins regained an 11-point lead, 60-49. Carroll and Nelson each hit jumpers and Rich Rolf converted a driving layup to cap the run.

USC Upstate got back within six, 60-54, and 68-62, but the baskets by Carroll and Salaridze and a pair of free throws by Carroll boosted the YSU lead back to 12.  

Youngstown State hosts Horizon League foe Detroit Mercy, Monday, Dec. 29. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center.