YSU gives BCU double-double trouble
Staff report
DAYTONA BEACH, FLA.
Seniors Damian Eargle and Blake Allen produced double-doubles as the Youngstown State men’s basketball team defeated Bethune-Cookman, 67-51, on Friday night at Moore Gym.
Eargle had 13 points and 11 rebounds and blocked four shots for the Penguins (7-5). Allen, who made four 3-pointers, scored 12 points and had 10 rebounds.
A day after being named to the Cousy Award Watch List, junior Kendrick Perry nearly recorded the first triple-double in school history with a team-high 15 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Perry also had three steals and two blocks.
Freshman Bobby Hain came off the bench and scored 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting. He also had seven rebounds.
The Penguins forced 14 turnovers, limited the Wilcats to a .355 field-goal percentage and grabbed 50 rebounds, including 35 on the defensive glass. YSU outrebounded BCU, 50-32.
The Penguins built a 14-point lead, 46-32, six minutes into the second half keyed by two 3-pointers by Allen. The run was capped by a jumper by Hain with 14:10 to play.
BCU countered with an 11-2 run over the next five minutes to cut the Penguins’ lead to five at the 9:50 mark.
Two free throws from Perry and a 3-pointer from Allen, his third of the second half, gave YSU a 10-point cushion with 9:06 left.
The Wildcats got no closer than eight points, 59-51, at the 2:40 mark. The Penguins then scored the final eight points of the game.
BCU led for just 16 seconds when it scored the first bucket of the game at the 18:57 mark.
After the Wildcats tied the game at 4, Hain, who scored nine first-half points, ignited a 10-0 run over a 3-minute span when he hit a 3-pointer at the 16:40 mark as the Penguins took a 14-4 lead.
BCU trimmed the lead back down to five, 18-13, before the Penguins scored nine straight points to rebuild their lead back to 14, 27-13, at the 5:40 mark.
The Penguins will host NAIA-member Marygrove, Saturday, Dec. 29. Tipoff is at 2:05 p.m. at Beeghly Center.