Youngstown State Scores FInal 7 Points In OT As Men's Hoops Falls, 53-49

Friday, November 18

Youngstown, OH

4:05 pm

UC Riverside

Youngstown State

Photo by: Gabriel L. Acosta

Youngstown State Scores FInal 7 Points In OT As Men's Hoops Falls, 53-49

11/18/2011 3:32:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Youngstown, OH—The UC Riverside Men's Basketball Team kept Youngstown State's high-powered offense in check for most of the game, and Harrison Gaines provided a much-needed offensive boost for the Highlanders, but the Penguins scored the final seven points in overtime en route to a 53-49 victory. (Box Score)

Youngstown State entered the game averaging 78.0 points per contest thanks in part to a 44.9 percent three-point shooting clip, and a +18 turnover advantage on the season.

But the Highlanders held the Penguins to just 22.4 percent shooting from the field including 15.8 percent from long range. UCR was outdone, however, in the free throw department as YSU made 20 of 29 as compared to 6 of 12 for the Highlanders.

it was the Highlanders scoring the first five points of the night building a 7-2 lead at the initial media time out. Kareem Nitoto's jumper gave UCR that five-point edge with 15:51 to go in the first.

Unfortunately, the Highlanders went cold after that, and following a 3-for-6 start to the game, connected on just 4 of 20 the rest of the period. UCR's next points didn't come until 10:54 remaining, but thankfully, the Highlanders' defense continued to cause problems for the Penguins as Phil Martin's free throws put UCR back on top, 9-7.

The Penguins took their first lead, 14-11, with 7:38 remaining thanks to a Blake Allen three ball. The Highlanders regained the lead after a Martin three and a Bradshaw jump hook, 17-16, but it was Youngstown taking a 21-19 lead into halftime

Youngstown State made just 25.0 percent (8-of-32) of its shots in the first 20 minutes of play including 2 of 8 from three-point range as the Highlanders blocked five Penguins shots and re-directed a number of others. The Highlanders connected on 26.9 percent from the field as Martin's seven points paced UCR at the break.

UC Riverside appeared to leave its shooting woes in the locker room during the break outscoring the Penguins 6-0 to open the second stanza, capped off by a Martin three-pointer. But YSU countered with an 11-0 run of its own to open up its largest lead of the game at 32-27.

Nitoto's lay up ended the run with 13:45 to go, but it wasn't until Martin's stick back dunk with 6:22 left that the Highlanders were able to draw even, 37-37.

After a Kendrick Perry free throw put the Penguins up by one, Harrison Gaines sank a three-pointer to put UC Riverside back on top, 40-38. DuShawn Brooks' pair of free throws tied the game once again, and it remained a 40-40 game until Damian Eargle's free throws gave YSU the lead again, 42-40. with 2:01 to go.

The Highlanders called time out, and with the shot clock on his back, Gaines tied the game with a 16-foot fall-away jumper. Youngstown State couldn't connect on its next trip down the floor and UCR called time out with 39 seconds to go.

The Highlanders were unable to get a shot off, however, as Kevin Bradshaw had his attempt tied up with no time remaining on the shot clock. The Penguins took over with six seconds remaining, and Perry's three-point attempt from 24 feet came up well short.

Youngstown scored the first four points of the overtime period, but Gaines drained a jump shot for his ninth point of the game, and after a Penguins misfire, Gaines fed BJ Shearry under the basket to retie the game, 46-46.

Perry missed a three-pointer on the next Youngstown State possession, and Martin followed with an old-fashioned three-point play to put UCR up three.

Eargle made a pair of free throws to cut the UCR lead to one with 41.8 to play. Elliott Berry was fouled on the Highlanders next possession, and he missed the front end of the one and one. Perry was fouled on the subsequent YSU possession, and he made both to put the Penguins back on top.

The Highlanders isolated Martin at the top of the key in an effort to take the last shot, but his drive to the basket was stuffed, and UCR fouled on the rebound. The Penguins made three free throws down the stretch, to come away with the four-point win.

The Highlanders return home for the Thanksgiving holidays as they prepare for the four-day, three-game 76 Classic being held this year at the Anaheim Convention Center. UC Riverside's first opponent is Villanova on Thanksgiving Day. Tip time is slated for 1:30 pm PT.