Penguins shoot poorly in 65-54 loss against Detroit

YSU scored just 22 points and shot 23 percent in the second half.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team scored just 22 points in the second half on 23 percent shooting from the field and suffered its fifth straight setback 65-54 to Detroit Wednesday night at Beeghly Center.
The loss was a costly one for the Penguins (7-17, 4-10) because it means that they can finish no higher than seventh in the Horizon League standings. Even if they win their remaining two conference games, they will not have a chance at hosting a first round tournament game.
"Out performance was very disheartening at this time of the year," said YSU head coach Jerry Slocum. "This is the time you should be playing your best basketball.
"You are not going to beat anybody shooting 23 percent from the field," Slocum added.
Still in the game
Even with the poor shooting, the Penguins were still in the game and trailed just 52-48 with 4:48 remaining.
"In our next seven possessions we made one basket and also missed four free throws," Slocum added.
The Penguins put two players in double figures, led by junior guard Quin Humphrey with 17 points, while senior guard Derrick Harris added 14.
Detroit (13-14, 7-7) was led by Brandon Cotton's 22 points. Chuck Bailey added 16 points as the Titans dominated the boards outrebounding the Penguins 41-27, including 11 offensive rebounds.
The Titans, who had only won only once on the road prior to Wednesday night, shot 52 percent from the field, making 26 of 50 shots.
First half battle
The teams battled throughout the first half, although the Titans led throughout the first 20 minutes.
Detroit held a 17-11 lead with 13:02 remaining before YSU battled back to tie the score on a Humphrey dunk with 10:01 left.
Harris, who had 14 of his points in the first half, hit a 3-point goal to pull YSU to within one point 24-23, but Detroit went back on top by six. 34-28.
YSU closed the gap to 35-32 at intermission.
The Penguins' problems began early in the second half as they came out and missed their first nine shots from the field and were 2-of-12 at the 13:00 mark yet only trailed 44-42.
The Titans reeled off six straight points to pull to a 50-42 lead with 7:30 remaining, but the Penguins, on Humphrey's 3-point shot, closed to 52-48 at 4:48.
Went cold down stretch
The Penguins scored just two more baskets the rest of the way as the Titans pulled away with a 13-5 run and the victory.
"Nobody in that locker room is giving up," said Humphrey. "We didn't shoot well tonight, but we'll come back out shooting on Saturday and keep shooting until they fall."
The Penguins take a break from Horizon League play on Saturday when they take part in the ESPN Bracket Buster event playing at Canisius in a 2 p.m. contest in Buffalo, N.Y.
The Penguins have two league contests remaining after Saturday: at Butler on Feb. 22 and at home against Loyola in the regular season final on Feb. 25.
"It doesn't matter who we play if we continue to shoot like we did tonight," Slocum said. " Canisius like to put the points up and if we can't shoot it could be a long afternoon."
mollica@vindy.com