Penguins go cold in loss to Fordham

Staff report

NEW YORK

Youngstown State had some hot shooting in the first half against Fordham on Saturday, but couldn’t keep it up in a 67-61 defeat.

The Penguins (2-3) made six 3-pointers while shooting 54 percent from beyond the arc in the first half of their second game of the Johnny Bach Classic, but shot 14.3 percent from downtown the rest of the way, finishing 8 for 25.

YSU had a 10-point lead in the final minute of the first half, but Fordham’s Nick Honor had consecutive layups to cut the deficit to six points at halftime.

Jesse Bunting’s layup made it 40-38 Fordham with 13:39 left to play and the Rams never lost the lead from that point on. Bunting’s bucket was part of a 14-4 surge for the Rams to start the second half.

Devin Morgan was 5 for 10 from three while scoring 25 points to lead the Penguins. Naz Bohannon was two rebounds short of a double double with 13 points and eight rebounds. Other than those two, no YSU player scored more than four points. The Penguins conceded 16 points on 15 turnovers.

Despite shooting 1 for 10 from three, Honor led Fordham (3-1) with 17 points. Antwon Portley added 12 points. Fordham got the win despite putting up similar numbers from 3-point range, going 8 for 27.

Morgan’s final three-pointer brought YSU within two points of Fordham with 47 seconds left to play, but Honor made four free throws in the games final 18 seconds to seal the win.

The Penguins got 11 points off the bench, including a three from Kendale Hampton, who was coming off a 32-point performance on Friday in a 94-83 win against Columbia.

YSU will conclude the Johnny Bach Classic today with a noon contest against Florida International today. The Penguins come home next Wednesday for a home contest against Westminster.