Humphrey's 35 leads YSU past Wright St. 72-57

The Penguins presented coach Jerry Slocum with his 600th career victory.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State senior Quin Humphrey probably won't win the Horizon League's most valuable player award this season, but he deserves it.
Nobody has been more valuable to their team than Humphrey this season and Thursday night he came up with another sensational effort to lead the Penguins to a 72-57 victory over Horizon League-leader Wright State at Beeghly Center.
With a crowd of just under 3,000 looking on, the 6-foot-4 guard from Ellenwood, Ga., celebrated Senior Night with 35 points and 11 rebounds. He scored 29 points in the second half as the Penguins rallied from a 33-25 deficit.
Near postseason home game
YSU (13-15, 7-8) is now almost assured of playing host to a first-round Horizon League tournament game next Tuesday. The Penguins are in fifth place with one game remaining at Cleveland State Saturday.
"That was a tremendous second half of basketball," said YSU coach Jerry Slocum, who recorded his 600th career victory.
"Our two seniors carried us tonight, but what won the game was our defense in the second half," Slocum said.
Humphrey's sixth career 30-point game -- his third this season -- was bolstered by senior Keston Roberts, who added 19 points.
"Anytime we can get to 70 points and shoot better than 45 percent from the field we're a pretty good team," said Slocum.
Hot shooting Penguins
The Penguins shot 51.1 percent (23-of-45) for the game, including 61.9 percent in the second half (13-of-21), while holding Wright State to just 25.5 percent (14-of-55) for the game and 23.3 percent in the second half (7-of-30).
Humphrey went into the game trailing the Raiders' DeShaun Wood in the league scoring race, 19.6 to 18.9, but he completely outplayed Wood, who was held to 15 points and 3-of-14 shooting.
"Quin will always be the MVP in my heart," said Slocum, "but there have been several players who have had outstanding seasons in the league."
Slocum talked briefly about his 600th win with his wife, Kim, at his side.
"There have been a lot of people over the years who have played a part in these 600 wins, but there is only one who has been there for all of them," Slocum said as he hugged his wife. "Nothing is tougher than being the wife of a coach."
Close battle early
The score was tied four times and there were five lead changes in the first eight minutes of the game.
The Raiders (21-9, 13-3) jumped ahead behind Wood, who scored four points, and Todd Brown, who added a 3-pointer for an 18-10 margin with 10 minutes remaining.
The Raiders' biggest lead was 11 points (29-18) with 4:17 remaining before the Penguins cut into that lead to trail 33-25 at halftime.
"We felt that if we could stay within seven or eight points in the first half we would have a chance since we've played so well in the second half this year," Slocum said.
And they did again Thursday night, scoring the first nine points to regain the lead (34-33) behind Roberts, Humphrey and junior Byron Davis.
The score was tied three more times, the last at 46-all. Humphrey's two free throws gave the Penguins the lead for good, 47-46.
Humphrey scored 17 over the final eight minutes and the Penguin defense did the rest, holding Wright State without a point over the final two minutes.
The Penguins' contest on Saturday at Cleveland State will be a 5:30 p.m. tip-off at the Wolstein Center. The YSU women will play Cleveland State in the first game at 3 p.m.
mollica@vindy.com