Youngstown State falls at Oakland

Staff report

Rochester, Mich.

Sophomore Ryan Weber scored a career-high 20 points and four other players reached double figures, but Oakland’s Khalil Felder made two free throws with four seconds left to lift Oakland to an 86-85 over the Youngstown State men’s basketball team on Friday night.

After senior Kamren Belin made two out of three free throws to get the Penguins within one, 84-83, in the final minute, YSU got a defensive stop and Kendrick Perry drove the lane and was fouled with 8.8 seconds left. Perry made both charity tosses to make it 85-84.

Khalil took the inbounds pass the length of the floor, drove to the basket and was fouled with just four seconds remaining and made both free throws.

Perry’s 30-foot 3-pointer attempt at the buzzer hit the front of the rim as the Penguins (13-10) fell to 4-4 in the Horizon League. Oakland (9-14) improved to 4-4.

Along with Weber, who made four 3-pointers, Belin scored 18 points, Perry poured in 17, sophomore Bobby Hain posted his fourth double-double of the year with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and junior DJ Cole just missed a double-double with 10 points and nine assists.

The Penguins led 47-49 at halftime and twice pushed the lead to as many as 11 points in the second half. Midway through the second half, Oakland used a 13-2 run to tie the game at 65.

Oakland built its lead to eight points, 80-72, with just 5:01 to go. Belin drained a 3-pointer and Perry made a free throw, a jumper and a layup to get the Penguins within one, 81-80, with 2:12 left.

After a basket by OU’s Cory Petros, Belin made two of three free-throw attempts keep the Penguins down one, 84-83, and set up Perry’s go-ahead charity tosses.

The Penguins shot an impressive 58.6 percent from the field in the first half, including 46.7 percent from 3-point range. Belin connected on 3-of-4 from beyond the arc while Weber made two treys.