YSU is no match for Green Bay, 78-61

VINDICATOR STAFF/WIRE REPORT

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Youngstown State’s men’s basketball team never got untracked and suffered a 78-61 loss to Wisconsin-Green Bay Saturday night.

The Penguins (5-12, 2-6 Horizon League) lost for the third straight game in part due to another poor shooting night from the field.

YSU connected on just 33.3 percent of its shots (21-of 63) and was just 5-of-20 from 3-point range against the Phoenix (13-5, 6-1).

Green Bay, on the other hand, shot lights out, hitting 26-of-51 shots (51 percent) and was nearly perfect at the charity stripe, hitting on 21-of-23 attempts.

Junior DeAndre Mays led the Penguins with 22 points and six rebounds, while junior Sirlester Martin added 11 points and also had six rebounds. The Penguins outrebounded the Phoenix 37-35.

Green Bay had a balanced attack with five players finishing in double figures led by Ryan Tillema and Mike Schachtner with 11 points each. Schachtner led the rebounders with eight.

The Penguins, who shot just 31 percent the first half and 21 percent over the first 10 minutes of the contest, led only once in the contest, 5-4 on a basket by Mays with 17 minutes left in the half.

Green Bay then went on a 17-4 run pulling to a 21-9 advantage and were never threatened. The Phoenix led by as much as 25 points in the half 40-15 before the Penguins scored the final nine points to cut the lead to 40-24.

Green Bay increased its lead to 30 points 64-34 midway in the second half, but Mays scored nine straight points for the Penguins cutting the lead to 70-47. They got no closer until they scored the final six points of the contest.

YSU will return home on Friday night to take on Cleveland State in a 9 p.m. tip off that will be televised live by ESPNU.