Valpo holds off YSU in second half
Staff report
VALPARAISO, IND.
Kevin Van Wijk scored 23 points and Ryan Broekhoff added 14 to lead Valparaiso over Youngstown State, 76-62, in a Horizon League men’s basketball game on Friday night.
The Penguins (9-7, 4-2 Horizon) led by five points early in the game and were ahead 17-16 with 8:32 remaining on a 3-pointer by Blake Allen, one of four he made in the game.
But the Crusaders (11-7, 4-2) answered with 3-pointers by Ben Boggs and Will Bogan, sandwiched around a layup by Richie Edwards, to take control, 24-17, with 6:40 remaining in the half.
Valparaiso led 32-24 at halftime and never trailed by fewer than seven points after that.
The Penguins got to within 59-52 with 6:38 remaining in the game on a pair of free throws by Kendrick Perry, but Valparaiso scored the next nine points to assume its biggest lead, 68-52, with 2:41 remaining.
Broekhoff started the run with a 3-pointer and Van Wijk added a layup shortly thereafter. The Crusaders added the rest of their points in the rally at the foul line.
Allen and Perry led the Penguins with 16 points, while Ashen Ward added 13 points and seven rebounds. Damian Eargle finished with 11 points, nine rebounds and six blocked shots, and DuShawn Brooks had six points and eight rebounds.
Also for Valparaiso, Edwards scored 12 points and Bogan finished with 11. Broekhoff and Ben Boggs had eight rebounds each, and Van Wijk finished with seven. Erik Buggs had six assists.
The Penguins turned the ball over just seven times but only shot 39.3 percent (24 of 61) from the field, including 7 of 18 on 3-pointers.
Valparaiso shot 45.8 percent (27 of 59) from the field and 15 of 18 at the foul line.
The Crusaders’ bench outscored Youngstown State’s 23-0, and held a 39-33 edge in rebounds.
Youngstown State travels to Butler on Sunday at 2 p.m.