Jan.
12,
2008
Men's Basketball: Barber, Davis
Spark YSU to 70-66 Win in Final
Homecoming
Detroit, Mich. -- Senior John Barber scored a game-high
22 points and senior Byron Davis
added 17 as the Detroit natives
helped lead the Youngstown State
men's basketball team to a 70-66 win
over Detroit on Saturday afternoon
at Calihan Hall.
The Penguins (7-9 overall and 3-3 in the Horizon League) won
for the first time at Calihan Hall
after dropping their previous 10
contests. UDM falls to 4-12 and 0-6
losing for the 10th straight time.
Youngstown State appeared to be cruising towards a victory
owning a 11-point lead with just
under three minutes remaining before
the Titans made an inspired run.
Leading 67-56 after a breakaway dunk by Barber with 2:48
remaining Detroit scored the next
eight points to get within 67-64 on
a Chris Hayes layup with 27 seconds
remaining.
On the YSU inbounds, freshman guard Vance Cooksey was fouled
with 23 seconds left and calmly made
two free throws to boost the lead to
69-64. UDM's Woody Payne cut the
deficit back to three points on a
layup with 17.6 seconds remaining.
On their next possession, the Penguins were able to whip 15
crucial seconds off the clock before
the Titans were able to foul. Barber
sank one free throw with 2.6 seconds
left for the final 70-66 margin.
Youngstown State built a 40-33 halftime lead as Davis and
Vytas Sulskis each scored 13 points
in the opening frame. Detroit came
out to score the first 10 points of
the second half to grab a 43-40
advantage. However, once the Guins
were able to grab a 44-43 advantage
following two Jack Liles free throws
they never trailed again.
Sulskis finished with 18 points
while Cooksey had eight points,
including two 3-pointers.
For the game, the Penguins shot 46.6
percent (27-of-58) while the Titans
finished at a 49.1 percent clip
(26-of-53). YSU drilled a
season-high-tying 11 3-pointers in
the contest and went 5-of-6 from the
free-throw line, all in the second
half.
YSU returns home on Thursday night when it plays host to
former Mid-Con rival and Horizon
League newcomer Valparaiso. Tipoff
at the Beeghly Center is set for
7:35 p.m. |
