YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Youngstown State men’s basketball team suffered their first Horizon League defeat of the season on Sunday, falling 88-81 to Oakland at the Beeghly Center. The Penguins had a strong first half, hitting nine three-pointers to take a four-point lead into halftime. However, Oakland turned the tide in the second half, scoring 53 points to secure the win.
Head coach Jerrod Calhoun expressed concern about his team’s defensive performance in the second half, as Oakland shot 62.5% from the field and 69% from beyond the arc. He also attributed their rusty play to the 10-day gap between games, acknowledging that the extended break didn’t work in their favor.
Despite hitting nine threes in the first half, the Penguins struggled to maintain their offensive rhythm in the second half, shooting only 25% from long range. YSU’s inability to contain Oakland’s scoring and rebounding ultimately led to their defeat.
Oakland’s Trey Townsend, Chris Conway, Jack Gohlke, and Blake Lampman were the leading scorers, while YSU’s Ziggy Reid, Brett Thompson, EJ Farmer, and DJ Burns all finished in double figures.
Looking ahead, the Penguins will face Horizon League preseason favorite Northern Kentucky on Wednesday, aiming to bounce back from their loss against Oakland.
To summarize, the Youngstown State men’s basketball team faced a tough defeat against Oakland, struggling to maintain their first-half momentum and ultimately falling short in the second half. With an upcoming game against Northern Kentucky, the Penguins will look to regroup and get back on track in the Horizon League.