Tired Penguins collapse against UW-Milwaukee

Youngstown State played its worst game in a 61-39 defeat
at Beeghly.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Three games in five days might have been just too much for the Youngstown State men’s basketball team.

The Penguins, coming off solid Horizon League victories over UIC and Loyola on Thursday and Saturday, looked like a different team Monday night in a disappointing 61-39 loss to UW-Milwaukee before an announced crowd of 1,247 fans at Beeghly Center.

The Penguins (6-8, 2-2 Horizon) shot the ball poorly (12-49, 24.5 percent), they were horrible from 3-point range (1-of-13), missed nine free throws and were outrebounded 44-38. Throw in 18 turnovers, which Milwaukee turned into 22 points and it was miserable night for the Penguins.

“We were a tired team, but that’s still no excuse,” said YSU head coach Jerry Slocum. “That might have been the worst game that I’ve ever been involved with since I’ve been coaching. We were not very good offensively.”

Milwaukee (8-7, 3-2) wasn’t a whole lot better, shooting just 33.9 percent for the game, but the Panthers, who won their fifth straight contest, converted all 15 of their free throws and shot well in the first half when they built a 39-21 lead.

The Penguins had only one player in double figures and junior Jack Liles just got there with a basket in the final two minutes to finish with 11 points. He also led the Penguins with nine rebounds.

Milwaukee also had only one player in double figures, but Paige Paulsen led all scorers with 18 points and also shared team-high in rebounds with Deion James at seven each.

Paulsen got the Panthers rolling early as he opened the game with a 3-point goal and then hit three more in the first eight minutes as Milwaukee pulled out to a 19-10 advantage.

The Penguins made just three of their first 14 shots from the field and were trailing 23-10 before freshman Vance Cooksey hit a 3-point goal to cut into the lead.

The Penguins committed eight turnovers over the final nine minutes of the half and when Allan Hanson hit a long 3-point shot at the buzzer they were down 39-21.

Milwaukee made just four field goals over the first 18 minutes of the second half, but the Panthers did hit on 10-of-10 free throws to keep the Penguins from cutting into the lead.

YSU made just six total field goals in the second half and missed six free throws. Milwaukee’s biggest lead was 25 points 57-32 with 7:05 left in the contest.

Liles’ basket with 2:26 left in the contest was the final one for the Penguins which cut the lead to 18 points, but Anthony Hill scored twice for the Panthers in the final minutes to reach the final total.

Milwaukee outscored the Penguins 20-14 in the paint, 22-10 off turnovers, 4-0 off fast breaks and 17-9 in bench points. The only statistic the Penguins led was second chance points 8-4.

The Penguins now will go out on the road for their next two games. They play at Wright State on Thursday night in a 7 p.m. tip off and then go on to play Detroit on Saturday afternoon at 3:35 p.m.