Highland Heights, Ky. – Senior Cris Carroll made a career-high seven 3-pointers, but the Youngstown State men's basketball team suffered a 94-79 setback to Horizon League foe Northern Kentucky on Sunday afternoon at Truist Arena.

Carroll scored a game-high tying 26 points on 8-of-17 shooting, including 7-for-14 from behind the arc, to lead the Penguins, who fall to 8-8 overall and 2-4 in Horizon League play.

Senior Bryson Dawkins and junior Rich Rolf each scored 10 points to help the Penguins cause.

Northern Kentucky's Dan Gherezgher led the Norse, who improve to 12-5 overall and 4-2 in the league, with 26 points while Donovann Oday poured in 22 points.

The Penguins faced a 26-point deficit at the intermission and trailed by as many as 28, 52-24, just seconds into the second half.

Youngstown State scored 21 of the next 33 points to trim the Norse advantage down to 19-64-45, after a Rolf 3-pointer at the 11:50 mark.

The Penguins, who outscored the Norse, 55-44, and shot 53.8 percent from the floor after halftime, continued their surge over the next 7:03

Youngstown State scored 12 straight points as part of a went 21-9 run that cut the lead to seven, 73-66. Five straight free throws from Tae Blackshear and Carroll and a 3-pointer from Carroll go the Penguins within 11, 73-62, and back-to-back baskets by Dawkins sliced the Norse edge down to seven with 4:47 remaining.

Northern Kentucky scored the next nine points to extend its lead back to 16, 82-66.

Carroll nailed his seventh 3 of the game to get the Penguins back to 12, 83-71, but the Penguins could not get any closer than 10 points the rest of the way.

Youngstown State returns home to host Purdue Fort Wayne, Wednesday, Jan. 7. Tipoff is set for 7:17 p.m. at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center.