Last-second free throw topples Penguins

Staff report

DAYTON

Wright State’s Armond Battle made a free throw with 1.4 seconds remaining to lift the Raiders past the Youngstown State men’s basketball team, 63-62, on Saturday afternoon at the Nutter Center.

The Penguins (5-2 overall, 1-1) were trying to become the first YSU team to start 6-1 since 1994.

Senior DuShawn Brooks led the Penguins with 17 points while Blake Allen scored 15 and junior Damian Eargle had 10 points, seven rebounds and five blocks.

Once trailing by five, 62-57, with 2:45 to go, Allen knotted the game at 62-62 with 1:32 left, and after an offensive foul by WSU’s AJ Pacher, Allen’s shot to give the Penguins the lead was off the mark, which set up Battle’s heroics.

The Penguins, who led by as many as 17 points in the first half, shot just 28 percent in the second half and made just two 3-pointers after shooting 52 percent in the first, including going 9-of-15 from 3-point range.

Leading by three, 16-13, with 10:57 left before halftime, the Penguins scored 14 straight over the next 3:43 to take a 30-13 lead at the 7:14 mark. A 3-pointer by Allen, a jumper by Eargle and 3-pointers by Allen, Brooks and Ward highlighted the Penguins’ run.

The Raiders (3-5, 1-1) got back into the game using a 19-8 run to close out the half trailing the Penguins, 38-32.

The Penguins extended their halftime lead to seven, 41-34, when Perry scored his first field goal of the game at the 17:39 mark.

WSU scored the next eight points over the next three to take its first lead of the game, 42-41, since leading 7-6 at the 15:42 mark of the first half.

The lead changed four more times when a 3-pointer by Allen and jumper by Perry gave the Penguins a 56-52 lead with 6:31 to go.

Again WSU countered with a 10-1 run over the next four minutes to take the 62-57 lead.

The Penguins return home to face Fredonia State, Tuesday at 7:45 p.m. at Beeghly Center.