UIC’s hot start dooms YSU

SEE ALSO: Milwaukee cools off YSU women

Simmons scores

career-best 18, but

Penguins lose again

Associated Press

CHICAGO

Youngstown State’s Jelani Simmons scored a career-high 18 points, but the Penguins fell to Illinois-Chicago 78-63 on Thursday night at Credit Union 1 Arena.

Tarkus Ferguson scored 23 points shooting 7 of 10 from 3-point range and the Flames snapped a two-game skid.

Godwin Boahen scored 21 points with four 3s, Rob Howard shot 5 of 8 from the field and the Flames made 31 of 56 (55 percent) from the field including 14 of 31 (45) from distance.

The Flames (8-9, 2-2 Horizon League) built a 14-0 lead with Ferguson burying a pair of 3s, Boahen a pair of layups and Howard adding a jump shot and a layup. Later, Ferguson added a 3 with 10:55 before halftime and the Flames led 24-9 en route to a 45-23 lead at the break. Jordan Blount’s layup with 16:29 made it 54-27.

The Penguins (5-13, 1-4) have lost five of their last six games.

YSU outscored UIC 40-33 in the second half, but couldn’t catch the Flames.

The Penguins just 30.8 percent from the field. They were 10 of 24 from 3-point range.

No other YSU player scored in double figures, but forward Naz Bohannan grabbed 14 rebounds.

The Penguins finish a four-game road swing at IUPUI at 1 p.m. on Saturday.