Junior Blake Allen and sophomore Kendrick Perry each scored 16 points to lead four players scoring in double figures but the Youngstown State men's basketball team dropped a 76-62 decision to Valparaiso on Friday evening at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
The Guins fall to 9-7 overall and 4-2 in the Horizon League while Valparaiso improves to 11-7 overall and 4-2 in the league.
Senior Ashen Ward scored 13 points with seven rebounds and junior Damian Eargle added 11 points with nine rebounds and six blocks.
Valparaiso received strong interior play led by Kevin Van Wijk's game-high 23 points and Ricihie Edwards' 11 points off the bench. Van Wijk and Ewards combined to shoot 13-for-24 from the field and leading scorer Ryan Broekhoff added 14 points.
The Guins jumped out to an early five point lead, 7-2, after scoring seven straight points a 3-pointer by Ward and jumpers by Allen and senior DuShawn Brooks.
After the teams traded baskets, the Crusaders scored the next seven points to take an 11-9 lead at the 11:49 mark.
Allen buried back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Guins their last lead of the game, 17-16, with 8:32 left in the first half.
The Crusaders, who shot 50 percent in the second half, scored next eight points to regain a seven-point edge, 24-17, before a Brooks jumper at the 5:43 mark cut the lead down to five, 24-19.
A jumper by Ward with 2:19 remaining brought the Guins within four, 26-22, but the Crusaders were able to push its lead to eight points, 32-24, at the half.
Valparaiso extended its lead to 15 points, 46-31, with 13:42 to go after clutch basketball by Broekhoff and Richie Edwards.
The Guins used a 10-2 run keyed by two triples by Allen to get back within seven, 48-41, with 11:25 left.
YSU got within seven on two other occasions - 57-50 on a jumper by Perry at 7:30 and 59-52 after two Perry free throws with 6:38 to go - but Valpo reestablished its double digit lead to as many as 16 points at the 2:41 mark.
The Guins visit Butler, Sunday, Jan. 15, at 2 p.m. at Hinkle Field House.
Courtesy: YSU Sports Information
