Road-weary YSU loses to E. Michigan

Sluggish play has the Penguins coach frustrated.
VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
YPSILANTI, Mich. -- Once again, it was a rally that started too late and ended too soon as the Youngstown State men's basketball team suffered its fourth straight loss on the road this season, dropping a 77-71 decision to Eastern Michigan Wednesday night.
The Penguins, who dominated play throughout most of the first half, fell apart over the first 15 minutes of the second half, scoring just five field goals that entire time and went from a 39-33 advantage to trailing by 15 points, 59-44.
"I'm as disappointed as I've ever been since I got here," YSU coach Jerry Slocum said. "We were very stagnant in the second half, we weren't aggressive for the first 15 minutes of that half, then we fell behind by 16 points and all of a sudden we get aggressive.
"It is very tough to correct errors while on the road and we played three of our last three there and that's a tough place to try and make you feel good about yourself," he added.
Roberts scored 25
The Penguins had three players in double figures, led by junior transfer Keston Roberts, who finished with 25 points, but 18 of them came in the first half.
Junior Quin Humphrey, who has been in double figures every game for the Penguins, finished with 15 points and just missed his fourth straight double-double with nine rebounds. Senior Derrick Harris also added 14 points.
Eastern Michigan (2-3) was led by John Bowler and Carlos Medlock, who each scored 21 points.
The Penguins shot 61 percent from the field in the first half, but only led by four points, 37-33.
YSU was 10-of-30 in the second half, but just 5-of-22 over the first 15 minutes of the second half. The Penguins were 5-of-8 over the final five minutes, including four 3-point goals.
Once again, the Penguins held the edge on the boards, outrebounding the Eagles, 29-27.
Free throws
Eastern Michigan held the advantage at the free throw line where it made 21-of-27 attempts, including 9-of-10 by Medlock.
The Penguins trailed 9-7 early in the contest, but then went on a 13-0 run, including 10 straight points by Roberts during that run, to take a 20-9 lead.
YSU took its biggest lead of the half, 26-14, and then again at 28-16 before the Eagles battled back to get to within four points at the intermission.
Roberts opened the second half with his 20th point of the game, but then the Eagles took over. YSU scored just one field goal over the next 12 minutes while Eastern Michigan scored 22 points and took command, 59-44, with just more than six minutes remaining.
Roberts, who hadn't scored since the opening second half basket, finally got the Penguins rolling with a 3-point shot and Harris followed with two more scores and the Penguins pulled to within seven points, 70-63.
Eastern Michigan scored seven of its last nine points at the free throw line to wrap up the win.
YSU will continue on its road trip with a Saturday night contest against St. Bonaventure at 7.