YSU tops Detroit in Horizon opener

Staff report

detroit

Senior DuShawn Brooks scored a career-high 24 points and led the Youngstown State men’s basketball team to a come-from-behind 64-61 win over Detroit in the Horizon League opener for both teams on Thursday at Calihan Hall.

The Penguins improved to 5-1 for the first time since 2000.

Brooks, who made a career-best six 3-pointers, nailed his final two in the final 1:55 to erase a four-point defict, 59-54, and to give the Penguins a 61-59 lead with 1:05 to go.

Sophomore Kendrick Perry, who had 13 points, extended the Penguins’ lead to 62-59 after making one-of-two free throws with 17 seconds left.

Detroit’s Chase Simon made a layup with 1.1 seconds left to bring the Titans within one but Perry then made two more free throws with 0.5 seconds left to seal the win.

It was YSU’s first conference road victory since Feb. 7, 2009, when the Penguins defeated UIC 68-60 — a stretch of 24 games.

Detroit (3-5, 0-1) scored the first four points of the second half to take a 38-35 lead, but a 3-pointer by senior Ashen Ward capped an 8-2 run to give the Penguins a 43-40 lead at the 14:21 mark.

The Penguins extended their lead to five twice, 47-42, and 49-44, with 11:10 to go.

The Titans used an 11-1 run to take a one-point lead, 55-50, at the 5:40 mark. Brooks hit his fourth 3-pointer of the game to bring the Penguins within two, 55-53, with 5:22 left.

After a free throw by Simon, Brooks hit a jumper at the 3:10 mark to get within one, 56-55.

Detroit’s Donovan Foster put the Titans up four, 59-55, at the 2:11 mark before Brooks’ 3-pointer brought the Penguins with one, 59-58, with 1:55 to go.