Feb. 7, 2009  | Box Score

Men's Basketball: Penguins Hit 12 Three-Pointers, Hold Off Flames Rally for 68-60 Win

    Chicago, Ill. -- Youngstown State made 12 3-pointers, built a 21-point first-half lead and staved off a feverish UIC rally to pick up the program's first win at the UIC Pavilion with a 68-60 victory on Saturday evening.

    With the win, the Penguins improve to 8-15 overall and move into sole possession of sixth place in the Horizon League with a 5-8 league mark. UIC falls to 10-13 overall and 3-10 in the Horizon League.

    Sophomore Tom Parks tied a career-high with 15 points on five 3-pointers while classmate Vytas Sulskis drilled three treys for 13 points and junior Sirlester Martin added 10  points.

    After owning a 17-point halftime lead, 44-27, the Penguins allowed the Flames back in the game with a 25-8 run over the first 13 minutes of the second half to knot the game at 52-52 with 7:39 left.

    The Penguins quickly regained control of the game with 11 straight points capped by back-to-back 3-pointers by Parks to take a 63-52 lead at the 2:49 mark.

    Sulskis and Martin each hit jumper to spark the spurt followed by a Jack Liles free throw and Parks' two treys.

    Martin made four straight free throws -two with 58 seconds left and two with 17 seconds remaining - seal the Penguins victory.

    In the first half, the Guins shot an impressive 54.8 percent from the field (17-of-31) and connected on 10-of-13 3-pointers for 76.8 percent.

    Through the first eight minutes of the game, the Penguins' largest lead was just five points and the Flames owned its only lead of the game, 18-17, at the 12:34 mark.

    After a layup by UIC's  Josh Mayo tied the game at 20-20 with 11:50 left, the Guins hit six 3-poitners over the next six minutes en route to a 22-1 run for a 42-21 edge at the 5:50 mark.

    DeAndre Mays, Sulskis, Vance Cooksey and Kelvin Bright each made one triple over the stretch while Parks drilled two.

    The Flames did not make a field goal over the last 11:50 of the first half and made just seven free throws to close out the half.

    The Penguins return home to host Green Bay, Thursday, Feb. 12, at 7:05 p.m. at the Beeghly Center.