Highland Heights, Ky. – Junior Juwan Maxey scored a game-high 26 points and Ty Harper poured in a career-high 21 points, but the Youngstown State men's basketball team dropped an 88-79 decision to Northern Kentucky on Saturday at Truist Arena.

The Penguins trailed by as many as 19 points in the second half and cut the lead down to four twice with under two minutes left before the Norse answered with a 3-pointer and four free throws in the game's final minute to seal the victory.

Youngstown State (19-12, 13-7 Horizon League) made 14 3-pointers led by Maxey's five 3s and Harper's four. Cris Carroll added 14 points for the Penguins

Leading the Norse (16-15, 11-9) was Trey Robinson with 24 points and Josh Dilling with 23 points and seven 3-pointers.

Northern Kentucky used a 20-3 run the first half to erase a 25-20 YSU advantage and take a 40-28 lead with 2:50 left before halftime.

Youngstown State was able to trim that deficit to 43-35 at the intermission

The Norse built its lead to a game-high 19 points, 60-41, after a Dilling 3-pointer at the 14:14 mark.

Three free throws from Maxey, one by Harper, two more from Maxey and a layup by Jason Nelson got the Penguins back within 11, 60-49.

NKU rebuilt its lead back to 18, 67-49, midway through the second 20 minutes of play.

A 16-7 run over the next five minutes keyed by 3-pointers by Harper and Nelson cut the Penguins deficit to 74-65.

Youngstown State used another 10-5 spurt sparked by a Maxey 3-pointer and capped by one from Carroll brought the Penguins' deficit to 79-75 with 1:59 to go.

The teams traded baskets before the Norse scored seven of the next nine points to seal the victory.

Youngstown State will play in a 2025 Barbasol Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship Quarterfinal on Thursday, March 6. YSU's opponent has yet to be determined.