Monday, November 18, 2013
Staff report
Amherst, Mass.
Youngstown State University reshman Marcus Keene scored a career-high 20 points and sophomore Bobby Hain posted his second straight double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds as the Penguins dropped an 85-69 decision to Massachusetts on Sunday at the Mullins Center.
The Penguins (4-1) forced 19 Minutemen turnovers and took 18 more field-goal attempts, but shot just 36.8 percent from the floor and 19.2 percent from 3-point range.
The Penguins scored just 24 points off those 19 UMass miscues.
UMass, though, was more efficient in the shot-attempts, making 55.2 percent (32-of-58) and improve to 3-0.
Senior Kendrick Perry scored 14 points with seven rebounds and four steals. He moved into 14th place on the YSU all-time scoring list with 1,407 career points.
With his four steals, Perry also became the school’s all-time leader in steals with 185.
The first half was a tightly contested game all 20 minutes. After UMass built a five-point lead midway through the half, 20-15, at the 9:45 mark, the Penguins’ younger players led a key surge.
Keene scored his only bucket of the first half to get within three, 20-17, a 3-pointer by freshman Kyle Steward and another by sophomore Ryan Weber got the Penguins within striking distance, 22-20, and 24-23, respectively.
The Minutemen, though closed out the half on a 10-3 run to take a 34-26 lead into the lockerroom.
UMass’ momentum continued as the second half started and the Minutemen built a 15-point lead, 45-30, less than four minutes into the second half.
Keene scored seven points – two layups and a 3-pointer – in less than two minutes to propel the Penguin to a 13-4 run to get within six, 49-43, with 13:36 to go.
Another layup by Keene at the 13:02 mark kept the deficit at six, 51-45, before UMass scored the next six points.