The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay showed exactly where it stands in the Horizon League and where Youngstown State University sits Thursday night at Beeghly Center.
From beginning to end, YSU never had an answer for the Phoenix, losing 71-40, which is a season low in points.
The lowest point total YSU (13-13, 4-7) scored before Thursday night was 67, defeating Cleveland State University and falling to Wright State University. The Penguins led the conference in points per game (78.6) while Green Bay (20-5, 10-2) ranked second.
Kendrick Perry scored only 10 points and never got into a rhythm despite breaking YSU’s all time Division I scoring record early in the first quarter. He needed just two when play began. He also scored in double figures for the 33rd consecutive game.
Bobby Hain led the Penguins with 11 points while Kamren Belin had seven. Ryan Weber came off the bench and struggled with two points (1 of 10 shooting) and committed five turnovers. YSU tallied 13 turnovers overall.
Alec Brown finished with a game-high 24 points and Keifer Sykes scored 14.
The Penguins’ woes happened early and often, namely on the boards. Green Bay tallied 12 more rebounds and eight offensively. The Phoenix also shot 53.1 percent while YSU shot 34.6.
The Phoenix went on a 12-3 scoring run into the first media timeout, leading 14-7. It was also during this time that Perry collected his second foul, leaving the court before returning shortly after.
Later on in the first half, Green Bay sprinted to a mini 7-3 run and led 30-17 into the third media timeout. Brown, who ranked seventh in the Horizon League in scoring heading into the game, finished with 11 first-half points.
The Phoenix emerged from the locker room on fire once again, building a 43-23 lead. YSU then countered with an 8-0 scoring run, cutting the deficit to 11 at the 16:39 mark. That still didn’t give YSU enough momentum to power through.
Green Bay countered with a 12-3 scoring run that lasted nearly 10 minutes. The Phoenix led, 57-34, with 8:01 remaining.
YSU managed to shoot just 31.9 percent and 18.8 beyond the 3-point line. Green Bay, despite a poor 14.3 percentage from the 3-point line, shot 54.5 overall. The Phoenix also out-rebounded YSU, 37-25.
YSU’s next game is on Saturday against the University of Illinois at Chicago, the last-ranked team in the conference. It is the second game of a doubleheader.
