Brooks blocks shot to help YSU to win

Staff/wire report

LORETTO, PA.

Kendrick Perry scored 12 points and Dushawn Brooks blocked a shot with two seconds left to give Youngstown State a 60-59 victory Saturday over St. Francis (Pa.).

The Penguins (4-1) broke a 33-33 halftime tie and never trailed in the second half. St. Francis (0-5) tied it twice, the last time at 50. After Brooks hit a 3-pointer for a 60-56 lead, Stephon Wyatt replied with one of his own to cut it to 60-59 with 2:03 left. Neither team scored in the last two minutes.

When Wyatt drove to the basket in the waning seconds, Brooks blocked the layup and grabbed the rebound to clinch the win.

Scott Eatherton led St. Francis with 16 points, but the Penguins had balanced scoring and a 32-24 rebounding edge. Brooks was one of three starters with nine points, while Cole Zuiker came off the Youngstown bench to hit three 3-pointers.

Youngstown State, starting 4-1 for the second consecutive season, got nine points apiece from Brooks, Blake Allen, Ashen Ward and Cale Zuiker.

The Penguins started the second half with a 12-2 run to take a 45-35 lead with 17:13 remaining.

Ward scored five points during the run and Damian Eargle’s layup put Youngstown State ahead by 10.

The Red Flash rallied to cut the Penguins’ lead down to one, 53-52, on Scott Eatherton’s layup with 4:22 to go.

Allen hit a jumper at the 3:16 mark to give Youngstown State a 57-54 edge, then John Taylor hit a jumper to slice the lead back down to one, 57-56, before Brooks’ deciding 3-pointer.

The Penguins trailed by as many as 11 points, 17-6, in the first half, before finding a rhythm offensively.

Allen hit a 3-pointer and jumpers by Kendrick Perry, Shawn Amiker and Perry brought the Penguins within three, 19-16, at the 10:10 mark.

YSU tied the game at 25-25 on a 3-pointer by Zuiker with 4:42 to go and two more 3-pointers by Zuiker made it 33-30 before Saint Francis tied it.