Loss at Milwaukee leaves YSU 0-5 in Horizon League

Penguins drop to 0-5

in Horizon League

Staff report

Milwaukee, Wis.

Sophomore Marcus Keene led three players in double figures with 15 points, but the Youngstown State men’s basketball team dropped a 77-62 decision to Milwaukee on Wednesday night at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.

The Penguins fall to 9-11 overall and 0-5 in the Horizon League while the Panthers improve to 6-12 overall and 1-3 in the league.

Also reaching double figures for the Penguins was sophomore Osandai Vaughn with 14 points and junior Bobby Hain with 12.

Milwaukee had four players in double figures led by Akeem Springs’ 18 points. Steve McWhorter scored 16 points, Cody Wichmann had 15 points on five 3-pointers, and Matt Tiby had a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

The Penguins trailed by 12, 45-33, with 15 minutes left but went on a 10-2 run to get within four, 47-43. Keene scored seven straight points during the Penguins’ run.

UWM answered with a 12-2 run of its own to push its lead back to 14, 59-14, at the 7:45 mark. Wichmann made two 3-pointers during the Panthers’s run.

Cameron Morse hit a jumper at the 4:52 mark to cut the deficit to 10, 64-54, with 4:52 remaining, but the Penguins would not get any closer.

In the first half, the Penguins jumped out to a 10-6 lead in the first five minutes after make four of their first eight shots. Fletcher Larson hit a jumper, Keene made a 3, Hain converted a layup and DJ Cole drained a 3-pointer to give the Penguins an early edge.

UWM went on an 11-0 run to take a 17-10 lead. YSU cut the deficit to two, 17-15 but UWM scored the next 12 points to regain a 14-point advantage, 29-15, with 5:27 left.

The Penguins return home to host Cleveland State on Saturday at Beeghly Center. Tipoff is set for 7:05 p.m.