Thursday, November 24, 2011
Staff/wire report
STATE COLLEGE, PA.
Tim Frazier recorded his third double-double of the season with 26 points and 11 assists, and Trey Lewis added 12 points off the bench to help Penn State 82-71 on Wednesday night.
The Nittany Lions (5-1) led by as much as 21 late in the first half before the Penguins got hot from long range to get within nine several times, including 77-68 with 49 seconds left off a 3 by Blake Allen. He finished with 25 points and seven 3s.
Youngstown State (3-1) opened the second half shooting 6 of 7 from 3-point territory, including three during the spurt from Kendrick Perry (23 points).
But the Penguins, who were picked to finish seventh in the Horizon League, could get no closer against the Big Ten program. Cammeron Woodyard added 10 points for Penn State.
The Jordan Center was nearly devoid of students with the school on Thanksgiving break.
“The first half we did a really good job of shooting ourselves in the foot,” said Youngstown State coach Jerry Slocum. “We didn’t guard [and] our bad shot selection led to easy baskets. We played a very poor half.
“In the second half we got every shot we wanted and guys made baskets.”
Slocum pointed to the Penguins’ shooting percentages as a factor. Youngstown State shot 52 percent on 3-pointers (14 of 27) but only 39 percent (24 of 61) overall.
That translates into a 10 for 34 performance (29 percent) inside the arc.
“You have to ask yourself, ‘Did your bigs play well for you?’ and obviously they didn’t,” saud Slocum.
Damien Eargle had eight points and five rebounds before fouling out for the Penguins. DuShawn Brooks added six points in 33 minutes, and together Eargle and Brooks were just 6 of 18 from the field.
Bench play was also a factor. Penn State’s reserves outscored YSU 30-4.