Butler holds off YSU men

Quin Humphrey had 29 points and 15 rebounds in the 72-64 loss.
VINDICATOR STAFF/WIRE REPORT
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Even Quin Humphrey's sensational second half effort wasn't enough to bring an end to the Youngstown State men's basketball team's losing streak.
Humphrey, the 6-foot-4 junior guard, scored 29 points, including 24 of them in the second half, and had a career-high 15 rebounds, but the Penguins still dropped a 72-64 Horizon League contest to Butler Wednesday night at Hinkle Field House.
YSU trailed by as many as 21 points midway through the second half, but sparked by Humphrey, battled back to within two points, 61-59, with just under four minutes remaining, but couldn't put the Bulldogs away.
Season final on Saturday
The Penguins (7-19, 4-11) have one regular season game remaining, Saturday night against Loyola University at 7:05 at the Beeghly Center.
"This was the effort that we've been looking for the last five or six games," said YSU coach Jerry Slocum. "The kids played their hearts out tonight.
"In the end we couldn't get the stops we needed to win, but we finally put it together in the second half," he added. "I'm very proud of their effort tonight."
The Penguins, who have dropped seven straight games, also got 13 points from senior Derrick Harris and 10 from senior Domonique Crawford.
YSU shot well
The Penguins outshot the Bulldogs, hitting 24-of-48 shots for 50 percent, and shot 57 percent in the second half. Butler hit 24-of-50 attempts, but were 10-of-23 from 3-point range as Brandon Polk led the Bulldogs with 24 points.
Behind Humphrey, the Penguins outrebounded the Bulldogs, 34-25.
YSU led only once in the game, 2-0, on Colin LaForme's basket. After Butler built a 12-6 lead the Penguins came back to tie the score at 13, but the Bulldogs went on a 15-0 run to take a 31-18 lead at the intermission.
Butler appeared to be running away when it pulled to a 47-26 lead with just under 14 minutes remaining, but Humphrey ignited the Penguins and they battled back to within two points, 61-59, before the Bulldogs regained control to lock up the win.