Youngstown, Ohio – Junior Juwan Maxey scored a career-high 29 points, but the Youngstown State men's basketball team (18-11, 12-6 Horizon League) fell to Milwaukee (19-9, 12-5 Horizon League) 84-74, on Friday night at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center.
Maxey connected on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor with four 3-pointers to lead the Penguins while senior Nico Galette posted 12 points with six rebounds.
Sophomore Gabe Dynes added 10 points with six rebounds and five blocked shots. Dynes also became the third player in Youngstown State history to record at least 150 career blocks, and he ranks third all-time with 153.
Leading Milwaukee was Themus Fulks with 21 points and 10 assists and AJ McKee with 20 points.
Milwaukee made seven of their first 10 shots to open the second half and used an 11-0 run over span of 3:36 to take a 62-52 lead with just under 12 minutes left.
A Dynes basket trimmed the lead to nine, but The Panthers extended their lead to a game-high 17, 75-58, with 6:28 to go with an 8-0 run.
Two baskets by Dynes, a layup by Maxey, a jumper by Galette, and a 3-pointer by Maxey sparked an 11-0 run and cut the Panthers' lead to 75-69 at the 2:40 mark.
After two free throws by Maxey got the Penguins within five, 77-72, with 1:42 remaining, Milwaukee went 7-for-8 from the charity stripe to seal the game.
The first half featured four ties and just two lead changes and the Penguins and Panthers battled back and forth for all 20 minutes.
Milwaukee took an early 15-9 lead before the Penguins went on a 14-0 spurt to claim a 23-15 advantage. Galette began the run with a 3-pointer followed by a three-point play by Maxey.
Maxey, who scored 18 points in the first half, scored the next five points, eight straight in total, on a 3-pointer and two free throws and Siem Uijtendaal added a 3-pointer for the 14-point edge.
Milwaukee tied the game at 24-24 at the 7:57 mark after a 9-1 run.
Both teams led by as many as four points the rest of the way, and Galette buried a 3-pointer at the first half buzzer to knot the game at 43-43.
Youngstown State closes out the home portion of its slate and honors its seniors against Green Bay, Sunday, Feb. 23. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center.
