Monday, January 25, 2016
YSU goes on the
defensive against
Cleveland State
By STEVE WILAJ
CLEVELAND
By the 14:11 mark of the second half on Sunday, two of Youngstown State’s starters — center Jorden Kaufmen and forward Matt Donlan — were forced to the bench with three fouls each in a three-point game.
Obviously, that meant trouble for the Penguins against Cleveland State, right?
Wrong.
“It was kind of a blessing when those two guys got in foul trouble,” YSU head coach Jerry Slocum said.
As a result, the Penguins turned to a lineup of guards Francisco Santiago, Cameron Morse and Jordan Andrews and freshmen forwards Bryce Nickels and Devin Haygood. That five sparked YSU to a game-deciding run in its 70-55 victory against the Vikings at Quicken Loans Arena. The spurt turned a two-point lead into a 16-point advantage over the course of seven minutes.
“That’s our best defensive lineup,” Slocum said. “They lock us up in practice every day. ... During that stretch, those guys just guarded and rebounded.”
The Penguins (8-13, 3-5 Horizon League) were led by Donlan’s 16 points, Morse’s 14 points and Santiago’s 12 points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals.
But even more, the select five that jolted a 16-2 YSU run from the 13:21 mark to the 6:17 mark of the second half helped pace the Penguins to their best defensive effort of the season. YSU tied the fewest points it allowed all season (Thiel also scored 55 on Nov. 25), as CSU (7-14, 2-6) shot just 35 percent from the field.
“We were really great defensively — talking and communicating and everybody bumping and sliding and just helping each other,” Santiago said. “That’s what it’s all about.”
Even more, the Penguins held the Vikings to just 27-percent shooting in the second half as they outscored CSU, 35-24. They also outrebounded the Vikings, 36-33, on the afternoon.
YSU’s 2-3 zone was particularly effective — which “surprised the heck out of” Vikings coach Gary Waters, considering the Penguins’ defensive struggles all season.
“They hit our Achilles’ heel — we can’t shoot it,” Waters said. “They played that zone and stuck inside of us. ... If we can’t attack the basket, it’s hard for us to score. So they played the zone well — I gotta give them credit.”
YSU fell behind by as much as seven in the first half, but Donlan scored all 16 of his points in the opening period to help the Penguins regain a 35-31 halftime lead. The junior forward connected on four 3-pointers during the stretch.
“Matt was huge for us,” Slocum said. “He got us off and made some shots. And I thought our guards did a great job with Cleveland State’s pressure. ... For 40 minutes, I just thought our guys did a nice job.”
In the second half, the Penguins built their lead to as much as 58-42 at the six-minute mark.
The win was YSU’s first at Quicken Loans Arena (the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers), as the contest drew a crowd of 2,633.
“The Q is an incredibly special facility,” Slocum said. “I thought they did a great job today — it was very well-attended for being here.
“It’s obviously an honor for our guys to play in The Q.”