Penguins use perimeter; The Rock stops here

Youngstown State tied aschool record for 3-pointers made in a game.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State was expected to have an easy time against Division II Slippery Rock Wednesday night and it did.
The Penguins pulled away late in the first half and rolled past the Rockets, 106-69, for their second win in as many games at Beeghly Center this season.
It marked the first time the Penguins (2-3) went over the 100-point mark in a regulation game since 1997, when they defeated Central State 103-63. The Penguins scored 116 points in a three-overtime loss to Western Illinois in 2001.
Connecting
YSU put on a 3-point shooting exhibition Wednesday, connecting on 14-of-26 attempts. The Penguins tied the school record for most 3-pointers made in a game, equaling marks set in the 1992 and 1999 seasons.
"We're not that good [of] a shooting team," said Youngstown State coach John Robic. "Most of those shots were created by good penetration and I can live with that."
Robic said the most important thing was "we got a win, and wins are important to this team right now.
"We also got a lot of playing experience for a lot of players," he added.
The Penguins were missing three players, including two regulars. Sophomore guard Jonathan Mends is nursing an ankle bruise, while junior forward Brian Radakovich (flu) and freshman John Barber (back) were in street clothes.
The Penguins put five players in double figures, led by freshman Mike Woodard with 16 points, while senior TeJay Anderson and freshman Quin Humphrey each added 15. Sophomore Derrick Harris had 11 and junior Doug Underwood tossed in 10.
Anderson also finished with 13 rebounds for his first double-double of the season, while Woodard had seven assists and Harris four of the Penguins' 21 steals.
"Mike Woodard is a good shooter and it was good to see him get his shots tonight," Robic said.
Slippery Rock (1-4), which has lost four straight, was led by Jason Taylor with 13 points.
Slippery Rock led 29-28 with six minutes remaining in the first half, but the Penguins finished the half with a 23-3 run by making five 3-pointers, including two by Harris, to pull ahead 51-33 at the intermission.
Second half
YSU opened the second half with a 16-4 run for a 30-point margin (67-37) with 14:35 remaining and the Rockets never got closer the rest of the way.
YSU shot 48.1 percent (37-of-77) from the field and was 18-of-23 at the foul line. Slippery Rock shot 37.9 percent (25-of-66) and out-rebounded the Penguins, 47-41.
There were 57 turnovers in the contest, including 36 by the Rockets.
The Penguins go on the road for two straight games, meeting Buffalo Saturday night and then nationally-ranked Pittsburgh Dec. 13. The next home game is Dec. 18 in the Horizon League opener against Wright State at 7 p.m.
mollica@vindy.com