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Wright State’s prayer is answered on 3-pointer
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DRIVING POINTS: YSU’s DeAndre Mays (1), under pressure from Wright State’s Ronnie Thomas (40), drives for a layup during the second half of Thursday’s game at YSU’s Beeghly Center. The Raiders edged the Penguins, 76-73.
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The Vindicator/Geoffrey Hauschild2.25.2010Wright State's Todd Brown (32) makes a slam dunk while Youngstown State University's Vance Cooksey looks on helplessly during the second half at YSU's Beeghley Center on Thursday evening. Wright State went on to defeat YSU 76 - 73.
By JON MOFFETT
Vindicator sports staff
YOUNGSTOWN — The only thing Jerry Slocum could do was bury his head in his hands as Wright State’s Troy Tabler buried a desperation 3-pointer to end the game.
With just a half second remaining on the game clock, the scoreboard read 76-73 Wright State, and wouldn’t change as time expired.
It was just another one of those endings to just another one of those games for the Penguins.
The Penguins (8-20, 2-15 Horizon League) have had some memorable — and forgettable — finishes through the past few games.
YSU’s past four games — all losses — have all been within three points, many in heartbreaking fashion.
The Penguins have lost consecutive games to Valparaiso (77-75), Milwaukee (64-62), UC Riverside (62-60) and Wright State.
The last two games have ended on a buzzer-beating basket.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s bad karma,” said junior Vytas Sulskis. “It seems like we did something to someone. I don’t know.”
Whatever the case may be, the Penguins have had some tough luck recently.
YSU led the game by 12 points just before halftime, but watched as the Raiders (19-10, 12-5) chip away and bring the score to within three at the break.
Another hot start, and a nine-point lead, in the second half was squandered as the Raiders continued to fight back. But probably most frustrating was the final shot of the game.
After a layup by Sulskis put the Penguins up by two with about 17 seconds left, Wright State inbounded the ball and drove down the court.
Tabler, a 6-foot-3 junior, got the ball in the far corner and was pressured by Sulskis. With time running out, Tabler heaved an arching shot the rolled around the rim before falling through.
Instantly Slocum, the Penguins and a crowd of 2,167 at the Beeghly Center simultaneously deflated. Again.
“He shot the shot, I was right there with him and I was expecting it to miss, but it just went it,” said Sulskis, who had good positioning on Tabler. “It’s just flashbacks from the other games.”
A visibly frustrated Slocum said he felt the team played well enough to win, but wasn’t able to hold on.
“I thought our kids played very hard, and I think obviously some unfortunate things happened,” he said. “A kid banks a shot at the end of the clock. But the game was won at the foul line.”
The Raiders’ free throw numbers almost mirrored their total field goals for the game. The team made 19-of-32 shots.
YSU went 14-18 from the line.
“They shot 32 free throws and we shot 18 in our building,” a subdued Slocum said. “But I thought our kids battled and played very hard.”
The Penguins played especially hard underneath the basket, bringing in 37 rebounds and gaining 18 second-chance points.
Wright State had 21 rebounds and five such points.
Sulskis achieved his second double-double of the season. His 15 points were second on the team and he led the Penguins with 10 rebounds. Senior Sirlester Martin led all Penguin shooters with 16.
Despite having suffered so many close losses, Sulskis said he and his teammates are not down or out. He said games such as Thursday’s help the team stay focused.
“It is difficult because we’ve lost so many games by like one possession, but we’re still going to keep fighting, we’re not going to quit and we’re going to get someone in the playoffs,” he said.
The Penguins have one home game remaining, against Detroit. They’ll be the first game of a doubleheader Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.
jmoffett@vindy.com