The Youngstown State men's basketball put forth a gutty effort on Saturday afternoon at the Beeghly Center taking eventual league Champion Milwaukee to overtime. However, the Penguins came up short falling 94-87 to the Panthers in the regular-season finale.
The Penguins (9-20 overall and 2-16 in the Horizon League) had two chances to win it in the final seconds of regulation, but two shots just missed.
After UWM's Tone Boyle missed the second of a two-shot free-throw situation, the Penguins had the ball with the contest tied at 82. Kendrick Perry settled the offense down and drove to the basket, but his off-balance shot missed. Sophomore Damian Eargle had an open putback just rim out before time expired send the game the extra session.
In overtime, Milwaukee outscored the Guins 12-5 and never trailed.
Leading the way for YSU was freshman Blake Allen who finished with a career-high 26 points and a career-best six 3-pointers. Senior Vytas Sulskis had 18 before fouling out in overtime, sophomore Damian Eargle had 17 and freshman Kendrick Perry finished with 13.
In regulation the contest featured 21 ties and 17 lead changes.
A highly-competitive and hard-fought first half by both teams featured 12 ties and six lead changes. It was only fitting that the game was deadlocked at 41 at halftime.
Allen led the way with 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field and made both of his 3-pointer attempts.
The biggest lead for YSU was 33-28 at 11:12 while Milwaukee's lead was three on two occasions (5-2 and 39-26).
The Penguins trailed 28-27 before six free throws gave them their five-point cushion.
Two DuShawn Brooks free throws put them in front by one, two by Sulskis made it a three-point game and two more by Allen put YSU in front 33-28 with 4:52 left in the half.
Milwaukee answered back scoring five consecutive points on two Anthony Hill free throws and a 3-pointer by Ja'Rob McCullum. McCallum and Hill led the Panthers with 23 points each.
From that point, Allen and McCullum exchanged pairs of 3-pointers and two Hill free throws game UWM a 41-39 lead with 1:40 remaining. YSU tied the contest with 50 seconds left on a basket by Brooks.
YSU shot 52 percent making 13-of-25 from the field while UWM was 12-of-27 (44.4 percent) in the first half. Both teams made 12 free throws and combined for 24 personal fouls.
The Penguins return to action on Tuesday night when they play in the first round of the Horizon League Tournament. YSU will be on the road, however, their opponent is still to be determined. The contest will be carried live on 570 WKBN and the Horizon League Network.
