Feb. 18, 2009  | Box Score

Men's Basketball: Penguins' Rally Falls Short to Cleveland State, 58-54

    Cleveland, Ohio -- A valiant second-half effort came up just short as the Youngstown State men's basketball team (10-16, 7-9 Horizon League) dropped a heartbreaker to in-state rival Cleveland State (20-8, 11-5 Horizon League) 58-54 Wednesday night at the Wolstein Center.

    Sophomore Vytas Sulskis led three players scoring in double figures with 14 points, including 12 in the second half, while junior Sirlester Martin posted his fourth double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Senior Jack Liles added 12 points.

    YSU trailed the entire game but cut the lead to within two with 23 seconds left after trailing by as many as 14 points.

    A Liles lay up got the Penguins within one possession to cut the lead to three 56-53 with 50 seconds to go.

    After a loose-ball scramble, the Guins were awarded possession. A technical foul by CSU coach Gary Waters sent Sulskis to the line for two free throw. He connected on one-of-two to put the Penguins within two, 56-54 with 23 ticks left on the clock.

    Youngstown State retained possesion of the ball but a missed jumper by Kelvin Bright was rebounded by CSU's George Tandy and passed ahead to Cedric Jackson who scored as time expired to give Cleveland State the victory, 58-54.

    The Penguins got to within six, 43-37, off of two Sulskis free throws with 10:29 left to go in the game.  However, the Vikings went on to score the eight of the next nine points to take a 13-point lead, 51-38 with 6:25 remaining.

    The Penguins would not go away as they went on a 9-0 run that included a Sulskis triple to put the Guins within six, followed by a lay-up by Sulskis to get within four, 51-47 with 4:38 left.

    For the game the Penguins were 20-47 from the floor, shooting 42.6 percent. Cleveland State went 21-56 from the field, good for 37.5 percent.

    The Vikings stormed out of the gate to go on a 10-0 run to start the game scoring 15 of the first 17 points before Ashen Ward hit a jumper to cut the deficit to eight at the 16:53 mark.

    Cleveland State led 34-23 at the half, leading as many as 14 twice in the first half as their defense created offense as the Vikings scored 14 points off of 13 Penguin turnovers.

    In the first half the Guins were 11-25 from the field, shooting 44 percent.  Cleveland State went 12-27 from the floor, shooting 44.4 percent.

    The Vikings also took advantage of 12 free throw, connecting on eight as the Penguins did not shoot a single foul shot in the opening half. 

    The Penguins return home to face St. Peter's (N.J.) on Saturday, Feb. 21. Tipoff is set for 4:35 at the Beeghly Center.