Sulskis nets 20 in YSU men’s victory

Staff Report

Youngstown

The Thanksgiving festivities got started a little early at the Beeghly Center as the Youngstown State men’s basketball team defeated Toledo 73-67 to remain undefeated at home in three games.

The Penguins (3-1) were led in the scoring by senior guard Vytas Sulskis. His 20 points led the team and the game. He continues to be an emotional leader for the Penguins, whose only loss came in overtime against Akron on Nov. 20.

The Penguins have one more home game against St. Francis (Pa.) on Saturday before beginning their Horizon League schedule Dec. 2.

Warren G. Harding graduate Damian Eargle had 15 points and brought down six rebounds. He also brought plenty of stuffing, blocking six Rocket shots.

The Penguins took a 12-point lead with 7:20 to go on a three-pointer by DuShawn Brooks. A couple of Penguins bobbled the ball, but Brooks scooped it up and sent it home. The shot took a lot of the energy out of the Rockets and delivered to the Penguins.

The knockout blow may have come with a little less than 1:30 left in the contest. Junior guard Ashen Ward (six points) drilled a deep ball to put the Penguins up 70-63. Toledo was forced to call a timeout with a minute left.

The Rockets took a 34-33 lead into halftime. The Penguins were held to just 39 percent from the field. Toledo shot 42 percent.

Youngstown State’s leading scorer at the half was Sulskis. He had 11 points and four rebounds, which also led the team going into the break. He was 3-of-4 from beyond the arc at the break.

Toledo got nine points out of Griffin, and eight from Wright in the first half. Griffin and Delino Dear each had five rebounds at halftime.