www.tribune-chronicle.com/sports/story/0113202006_spt02ysumen13.aspErrors hurt Penguins' effort late
By JOHN VARGO Tribune Chronicle
YOUNGSTOWN - It's a matter of execution.
Youngstown State didn't execute when it mattered as Wright State defeated the Penguins, 64-60, Thursday night at Beeghly Center.
Quin Humphrey made two foul shots to cut the deficit to 64-58 with 18 seconds left.
Domonique Crawford stole an inbounds pass intended for Drew Burleson. Crawford got all basketball as an official called jump ball that went to Penguins under their own basket.
YSU (5-10, 2-3 Horizon League) tried to score again and took four shots at the hoop, mostly from less than four feet.
The fifth attempt went in as Humphrey's putback with 2 seconds left made the final score. Humphrey, the league's leading scorer at 21.2 points per game, was 4-of-12 from the field and 1-of-6 from 3-point range against Wright State.
YSU coach Jerry Slocum said his team did not perform to its full potential for the second straight game. The Penguins lost 68-63 at Detroit.
"We did not make shots. That's the difference in conference play,'' he said.
The only YSU player making shots was Keston Roberts, who had a career high 28 points.
"My teammates were giving me the ball and I was making shots,'' Roberts said.
Wright State was also making shots as well, especially in the post. The Raiders (8-6, 4-0) outscored the Penguins 30 to 8 in the paint.
Roberts said the return matchup on Jan. 30 in Fairborn has to be different than tonight for YSU to be successful.
"We had to stop them from scoring inside,'' he said.
Roberts added that the Penguins must quit making unforced errors, especially on the offensive end.
"We didn't execute our plays,'' he said. "We made stupid mistakes.''
Roberts added his team knew what it took to be victorious Thursday.
"We were basically prepared for what they were going to do,'' he said.
Slocum said his team faced a solid Wright State club that showed why they are still undefeated in conference play.
"They're a good basketball team. We knew it wasn't going to be easy,'' he said.
Wright State coach Paul Biancardi said his team knew what kind of offensive threat YSU was, scoring 72.9 points per game.
"They're a very athletic team. They go from offense to defense very quickly,'' he said.
Just as quickly, Saturday's game against Cleveland State will be upon the Penguins. Tipoff is at 7:35. That will be the second game of a four-game homestand for YSU.
"We have our work cut out for us every night,'' said Slocum about the team's upcoming Horizon League opponents.
He has stated time and time again that YSU is competitive in games like Thursday's and other ones throughout the season because they work hard.
Sometimes, even hard work is not enough.
"We did not execute when the game mattered,'' Slocum said.
BACK HOME: Former Howland girls basketball player Michelle Rura, a 2003 graduate, is a student trainer for Wright State.
A knee injury cut short her basketball playing career in high school.
She likes her current position because it keeps her close to the game. Rura said she likes the players and coaches.
"They make me feel like I'm one of the team,'' she said.
She also played golf for Howland.
"When I come home on weekends and break, I play at the club. I play for fun, not competitively,'' Rura said.
SCHOOL SPIRIT: The St. Joseph School choir, made up of 56 fourth through eighth graders, sang the National Anthem prior to women's and men's games. St. Joseph is located in Austintown.
jvargo@tribune-chronicle.com
