Penguins rally but fall short

STAFF/WIRE REPORT

CHICAGO — Zavion Neely scored 23 points as UIC defeated Youngstown State, 74-68, in a Horizon League men’s basketball game on Saturday.

The win snapped a nine-game losing streak for the Flames (6-17, 2-11 HL). Robo Kreps added 20 points and four steals and Jeremy Buttell grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and scored nine points for the Flames.

The Penguins (8-15, 2-11) have lost 7 of their last 8 games. They were led by Andre Mays’ 22 points and five assists. Vytas Sulskis had 21 points on 5 of 12 shooting from the field and a 9 for 14 performance at the foul line.

Mays was 11 for 15 at the foul line. He and Sulskis combined to go 10 for 25 from the field; the rest of the Penguins were just 11 of 30.

The Flames took a 37-24 lead into the half, thanks to 50 percent shooting (14 of 28) and YSU’s 30 percent effort (7 of 23).

Kreps hit a 3-pointer with 15:31 remaining in the game to extend the Flames lead to the largest of the game at 17, 48-31.

Over the next 10 minutes, the Penguins worked their way back into the game and cut the lead to just three with 5:13 remaining on Sulskis’ 3-pointer.

But the Flames made 11 of 14 free throws over the final 3:04 to seal the victory.

Eddie D’Haiti came off the bench to score five points and added a team-high seven rebounds for the Penguins, who were outrebounded 37-36.

Youngstown State committed 18 turnovers, one more than UIC.

Mays also had five rebounds and five assists.

Spencer Stewart added six points and seven assists for the Flames.

Youngstown State plays host to nationally-ranked and league-leading Butler on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. at the Beeghly Center.