YSU Loses to Austin Peay, 88-86

by YSU

Sunday, Dec 1, 2013 9:56 pm

Kendrick Perry scored 32 points, but Austin Peay closed on a 12-4 run after the Youngstown State men's basketball team built its biggest lead of the second half to sneak out of the Beeghly Center with an 88-86 victory on Saturday night at the Beeghly Center.

The Penguins (6-3) led 82-76 after two Perry 3-pointers in a span of 21 seconds. YSU could not capitalize on its next three possessions with the six-point advantage and that proved to be costly.

YSU was able to maintain the lead until the final 72 seconds when two free throws by Austin Peay's Travis Betran put the Governors (4-3) on top 86-85. On the ensuing YSU possession, Perry missed his attempt and Zavion Williams answered by draining a 19-footer with 14.6 seconds left to put the APSU on top 88-85.

Perry couldn't make a three to tie the contest quickly, but Bobby Hain grabbed the rebound and the Penguins called timeout with 5.8 seconds left. On the inbounds play, Perry was fouled deep in the backcourt with 3.9 seconds remaining and made the first. He intentionally the missed the second and the rebound went out of bouns to the Penguins with 2.1 ticks left.

Off the inbounds pass, Marcus Keene's 3-point attempt was off the mark and the Penguins came up two points short.

For the contest, Perry was 8-of-17 from the field and 13-of-16 from the free-throw line. Kamren Belin scored 14 points, Keene added 12 and Bobby Hain chipped in 11. Betran had 24 points for Austin Peay while Williams came off the bench to finish with 20.

On the night, YSU shot 45.8 percent making 27-of-59 shots. Austin Peay shot 58.3 percent, 35-of-60. The Guins made one field goal the final 5:59, a Keene basket with 2:25 left.

The first half featured nine ties and eight lead changes, and the largest lead of the stanza was seven points when the Penguins owned a 15-8 edge with 14:42 left.

A 3-pointer by APSU's Travis Betran tied the game at 19-19 before Belin knocked down a 3-pointer to give YSU a 22-19 lead at the 10:41 mark.

Two free throws by Perry at the 7:27 mark put the Penguins back up 28-25, but the Governors went on an 11-2 run to take a 36-30 advantage at the 5:23 mark.

A jumper by freshman Kyle Steward, a layup by Perry and two free throws by Keene knotted the game at 36-36 with 4:12 left.

Keene's 3-pointer with 56 seconds left put the Penguins up 45-42, but the Governors made two free throws and converted a steal into a layup with one second left to take a 46-45 lead into the lockerroom.

The Penguins shot 51.7 percent in the first half but the Governors connected on a blistering 64.3 percent from the field.

YSU returns to action on Wednesday night when it plays host to Robert Morris. Tipoff is set for 7:45 p.m. following the women's game with Miami (Ohio).

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