Morse pumps in 44 points in YSU victory

January 10, 2016 at 12:09a.m.

Sophomore guard has Penguins’ top

scoring day since 1993 against Phoenix

By Steve Wilaj

YOUNGSTOWN

Of course, Youngstown State guard Cameron Morse had no clue he had a chance to drop 40 points going into Saturday’s matchup with Green Bay. However, the sophomore definitely went in prepared.

“I knew the openings in their defense,” Morse said. “And I just took advantage of those.”

He did so to the tune of 44 points, leading the way to a 103-93 bounce-back victory for YSU in the nightcap of the doubleheader at Beeghly Center.

Morse — who became the first Penguins player to score 40-plus points since Reggie Kemp scored 46 in 1993 — shot 13 of 18 from the field and 15 of 17 from the foul line as YSU (7-10, 2-2 Horizon League) downed Green Bay (10-6, 3-1) after an ugly loss to Milwaukee on Thursday.

Junior forward Matt Donlan added 25 points, while point guard Francisco Santiago notched 12 points and 11 assists.

“Really, this is the first time at home since Robert Morris [on Dec. 12] that we came out with great passion and fire and intensity,” head coach Jerry Slocum said. “You might sit there and say ‘OK, you scored a lot of points, you feel better.’ No, it’s got nothing to do with that.

“It’s got everything to do with you can see it in shoot around this morning and we just had that edge back.”

Against Milwaukee, YSU fell behind by 17 at halftime.

But the Penguins started much better against Green Bay, shooting 5 of 11 on 3’s and making all 16 free throws in the first half (Morse had 21 points and went 11 for 11 from the line) as they led 47-45 at the break.

YSU then used a 12-3 run in the first three minutes of the second half to open a 59-48 lead. The Penguins never looked back, eventually pushing it to a 20-point advantage as they finished 50.8 percent from the field, 11 for 20 from 3-point range and 28 for 34 on free throws.

“[Green Bay] play’s a style like none other in our league of up-tempo and pushing it up your back,” Slocum said. “I thought we answered it and played really well. This is more like us — drive it, kick it, share it and play unselfish.”

In a better defensive effort from YSU, the Phoenix finished just 40.7 percent from the field, including 8 of 29 from beyond the arc.

YSU’s strong offensive game marked the Penguins’ third in four contests since losing starting forward Bobby Hain to a foot injury. In those four games, YSU is averaging 88.8 points per game while playing at a quicker pace.

And Morse is leading the charge, as he’s averaging a team-high 18.1 points on the season.

He was inserted in to the starting lineup when Hain went down and hasn’t scored less than 18 points since.

“I have to thank God. Without God, none of this is possible,” Morse said. “My teammates were dumping water on my head, so yeah, it’s sinking in a lot.”

Now the Penguins hit the road for five of their next six games, starting with a matchup at Northern Kentucky on Thursday.

“We’ve played four out of the best five teams in the league,” Slocum said. “Do we wish we can be better than 2-2 in the league? Yeah. But I’m pretty happy with what the effort was to get us to 2-2. We just have to keep on battling with this group.”

Hain update

Hain rejoined the team prior to YSU’s homestand and had his foot evaluated by team doctors. Slocum said he’s out indefinitely.

“Weeks,” Slocum said. “I don’t wanna come out now and say he’s done for the year, but he’s gone for a while.”