Dec. 1, 2007

Men’s Basketball: Penguins Can’t Overcome Shooting Woes in 61-50 Loss

    Richmond, Ky. – The Youngstown State men’s basketball team shot a season-low 36.4 percent, 18.8 percent from behind the 3-point line and 50 percent from the free-throw line suffering a 61-50 loss to Eastern Kentucky at McBrayer Arena on Saturday night.

    YSU (3-3) made 20-of-55 shots, including 3-of-16 from behind the 3-point arc, in the defeat to the Colonels (3-4). From the line, the Guins were 7-of-14.

    The Penguins were led by junior forward Jack Liles who had a game-high 18 points and finished with 10 rebounds. All 18 of Liles’ career-high-tying points came in the second half.

    Despite shooting just 30.4 percent in the first half, YSU was within striking distance trailing only 29-19 at halftime. In the second half, the Guins cut the deficit to five twice – 31-26 and 39-34 – but each time the Colonels answered with momentum-breaking 3-pointers.

    EKU built its biggest lead of the night at 54-39 with six minutes remaining. The Guins were able to get within 58-48 on a Liles basket with 2:22 left, but that was as close as they could get in the second half.

    The Colonels scored the game’s first six points and never trailed. After the initial flurry, the closest YSU could get was four points on two occasions in the first half.

    EKU had four players finish in double figures with Darnell Dialls scoring a team-high 17 points. Mike Rose had 12 and Jamaal Douglas and Adam Leonard each finished with 10.

    Eastern Kentucky shot 48 percent for the game making 24-of-50 attempts. EKU won the battle of the boards 35-33.

    Liles also scored 18 points in last February’s contest versus Eastern. Senior forward John Barber was the only other Penguin to score double figures finishing with 11. Senior guard Byron Davis, who had scored in double figures the first five games, was held to eight, but had a season-best six assists.

    YSU returns home for just the second time this season on Wednesday night when it plays host to Kent State. Tipoff is set for 7:35 p.m. following the women’s game versus Central Michigan.