Feb. 26, 2009 | Box Score

Hot-Shooting No. 23/24 Butler Tames Penguins, 78-57
    Indianapolis, Ind. -- Junior Sirlester Martin scored a team-high 15 points and led three players scoring in double figures but the Youngstown State men's basketball team could not stop a hot-handed No. 23/24 Butler team in a 78-57 loss on Thursday evening at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

    The Penguins fall to 11-17 overall and 7-10 in the Horizon League. Butler clinched a share of its third straight Horizon League regular-season championship with a 14-3 league mark and an overall record of 24-4.

    Sophomore Vytas Sulskis and junior Kelvin Bright scored 12 and 10 points, respectively, off the bench.

    Butler shot an impressive 54.9 percent from the field for the game, including 60.9 percent in the first half.

    After trailing by 10, 38-28, at the intermission, Martin scored two straight buckets to bring the Penguins within six, 38-32, with 17:32 left in the game.

    Butler, though, scored the next eight points to balloon its lead to 14, 46-32, at the 15:36 mark.

    Another jumper and a three-point play by Sulskis cut the Penguins' deficit to nine, 46-37, with 14:18 left, but the Bulldogs went on a 10-0 run to extend their lead to 19 points, 56-37, midway through the second half.

    The Penguins would only get as close as 14, 56-42, after a DeAndre Mays 3-pointer at the 9:40 mark.

    In the first half, Butler jumped out to a a quick 11-3 lead  within the first five minutes of the contest.

    Two buckets by Martin, two baskets Sulskis and a 3-pointer by Sulskis trimmed the deficit down to three, 17-14, at the 11:36 mark.

    A jumper by Martin with 7:34 to go put the Guins down four, 24-20, but the Bulldogs outscored the Guins, 14-8, the rest of the half to take a 10-point edge into the lockerroom at halftime.

    The Penguins close out the regular season against Valparaiso, Saturday, Feb.. 28. Tipoff is slated for 8:05 p.m. EDT and will be broadcast live on NewsRadio 570 WKBN AM.