YSU men busted at Buffalo 95-82

The Penguins were taking part in the ESPNU Bracket Buster event.

VINDICATOR STAFF/WIRE REPORT

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Think things can’t get worse for the Youngstown State men’s basketball team? Saturday, they did.

A 95-82 loss to Buffalo as part of the ESPNU Bracket Buster leaves the Penguins one defeat from 20 losses for the seventh time in eight years.

YSU got a career-high 29 points from senior Byron Davis, but the Penguins did little on defense as Buffalo scored at will.

“It was a horrific defensive effort on our part,” said YSU coach Jerry Slocum. “Buffalo physically manhandled us. They shot any shot they wanted to take and we had no answer for them defensively.

“It was the poorest defensive play we’ve had since I’ve been here and I’m very disappointed,” Slocum added.

Senior John Barber added 22 points for Youngstown State (9-19) and junior Jack Liles added 11, all in the second half. Barber is eight points short of 1,000 career points.

The Penguins are 2-3 all-time in the Bracket Buster, and all three losses have come on the road, where the Penguins are 3-13 this year. Buffalo (9-17) snapped a three-game losing streak.

The first half was close throughout, with four times and eight lead changes. The Penguins’ biggest lead was only three points (19-16) and the half ended with Buffalo leading, 41-39.

The Bulls never trailed in the second half, though, and kept the lead at the foul line where they converted 28-of-31 shots. YSU was just 13-of-23 at the line.

The Penguins, who 49 percent from the field (32-of-66), had one more field goal than the Bulls (32-31), but were outrebounded 42-34.

After YSU pulled to within two points (49-47) on Vytas Sulskis’ 3-pointer, the Bulls reeled off 10 straight points to take a 59-47 lead.

The Penguins were able to keep the margin under 10 points most of the way until Buffalo went on 9-3 run and took command, 83-69, with just over five minutes remaining. YSU never got the margin to single digits the rest of the way.

Junior Andy Robinson led Buffalo with 26 points and Byron Mukley added 18.

YSU closes out the regular season next Saturday when they play host to Cleveland State at 7:05 p.m. at Beeghly Center.