Jan. 3, 2008
Men's Basketball: Sulskis, Barber Pace Penguins to 80-68 Win Over Flames

    Youngstown -- Freshman Vytas Sulskis scored a career-high 26 points and senior John Barber posted his sixth career double-double with a career-best 24 points and 15 rebounds as the Penguins knocked off UIC 80-68 on Thursday evening at the Beeghly Center.

    With the win, the Penguins improve to 5-7 overall and 1-1 in the Horizon League while UIC falls to 8-6 overall and 2-1 in the league.

    The Penguins, who shot 50 percent from the field, converted 20-of-33 (60.6 percent) from the floor in the first half led by Sulskis' 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting including four 3-pointers.

    The two teams fought through four ties through the first five minutes of the game before Mikko Niemi hit a 3-pointer - his only field goal of the game - to put the Penguins ahead 14-13 with 15:11 remaining.

    A jumper by Barber, one by Mel Johnson and another by Barber extended the Guins' edge to seven, 20-13, at the 13:22 mark.

    The Flames came within one 23-22 but Sulskis hit a 3-pointer and a lay up to put the Guins back up by seven, 35-28, at the 8:28 mark.

    A 3-pointer by Mayo cut the Flames deficit to two, 42-40, but the Penguins scored 11 of the next 13 points take an 11-point lead into the lockerroom.

    In the second half, the Flames pulled within eight midway through the stanza but would not get any closer.

    The Penguins continue a busy stretch playing three Horizon League games in five days playing host to Loyola on Saturday afternoon. Tipoff for the contest is a rare 1:05 p.m. start at the Beeghly Center. YSU is back in action at home on Monday night against Milwaukee at 5:35 p.m.