YSU men’s hoops bests Binghamton

Staff report

Vestal, N.Y.

Freshman Darius Quisenberry scored a team-high 14 points — nine in the second half — as the Youngstown State men’s basketball team defeated Binghamton, 58-48, on Saturday afternoon.

YSU’s win snapped a four-game losing streak

Sophomore Garrett Covington also reached double figures in scoring with 11 points and sophomore Naz Bohannon just missed a double-double with eight points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Jelani Simmon made three 3-pointers for nine points off the bench.

The Penguins (4-8, 3-8 Horizon League), who led for more than 32 minutes, trailed the Bearcats, 7-4, before going on a 12-2 run to take a 16-9 lead after a 3-pointer by Devin Morgan at the 7:25 mark.

Binghamton (3-8) got within three, 18-15, with 2:28 left before halftime, but a jumper by Morgan and 3-pointer by Quisenberry and Simmons gave the Penguins a 26-17 lead at the intermission.

A 3-pointer by Binghamton’s Caleb Stewart, who led the Bearcats with 15 points, cut the deficit to six, 26-20, but baskets by Noe Anabir, Bohannon and Covington pushed the YSU advantage back to 12, 32-20, with 16:16 left in the game.

Binghamton got within seven, 37-30, after a 3-pointer by Sam Sessoms, but Quisenberry answered with a 3 of his own to push the YSU lead back to 10, 40-30, midway through the half.

The Bearcats would not get any closer than nine points the rest of the way.

YSU closes out the non-league portion of their schedule against nationally-ranked Ohio State on Tuesday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.