Youngstown, Ohio – Four players scored in double figures, but the Youngstown State men's basketball team fell to Detroit Mercy, 73-68, on Monday evening at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center.

Senior Cris Carroll led the Penguins with 15 points and eight rebounds while senior Bryson Dawkins scored 14 points. Senior Jason Nelson and junior Tae Blackshear each added 12 points.

The Penguins fall to 8-6 overall and 2-2 in the Horizon League while the Titans improve to 6-7 overall and 3-1 in league play.

Detroit Mercy made its first six shots of the second half to expand a seven-point halftime lead, 32-25, into an 18-point advantage, 47-29, less than four minutes into the stanza.

The Titans led by as many as 22 points before the Penguins made a 13-0 run to get within nine, 51-42, at the 10:34 mark. Freshman Jaiden Haynes hit a 3 pointer hit a 3-pointer to start the run and a dunk by Dawkins and another 3 by Haynes cut the deficit to 14, 51-37.

Blackshear hit a 3 and layup to get the Penguins within single digits.

UDM rebuilt lead to 15 points before a Dawkins 3-pointer cut the deficit back down to 10, 66-56 with 2:56 remaining, and a Nelson layup at 1:22 got YSU within nine, 68-59.

An old-fashioned three-point by Nelson and Blackshear's third 3-pointer of the game trimmed the Titans lead to six, 71-65, with 36 seconds left.

The Titans' Orlando Lovejoy made two charity tosses to increase the lead back to eight, and a Dawkins layup and a free throw from Blackshear ended the scoring.  

In the first half, Dawkins jump started the Penguins with 3-pointer and a breakaway dunk for a quick 6-2 lead.

The Penguins went through a 5:20 scoring drought while the Titans were scoreless for a 3:53 span.

Carroll buried a 3-pointer to regain an 11-9 edge, and another 3 by Carroll gave the Penguins a 16-13 lead, but the Titans responded with a 10-0 run over a 2:54 span to take a 23-16 advantage with six minutes

Carroll ended the Titans surge with his third 3 of the first half and baskets by Tyler Robinett and Haynes got the Penguins back within two, 27-25, with 2:34 to go.

The Titans answered with a basket by Keshawn Fisher and a 3 by Jared Lary to take a 32-25 lead into the locker room at halftime.

Youngstown State closes out its three-game homestand when it hosts Oakland, Thursday, Jan. 1. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center.