Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Youngstown State’s Ziggy Reid drives and scores during the first half of the Penguins’ 93-85 win over Purdue Fort Wayne on Wednesday at the Beeghly Center.

YOUNGSTOWN — In recent games, Youngstown State has been looking for answers defensively.

In a pair of losses last week, the Penguins gave up sizable second-half scoring outputs in back-to-back losses to Oakland and Northern Kentucky. Then on Sunday, YSU trailed at halftime against IUPUI after the sharp-shooting first half by the Jaguars.

But on Wednesday, the Penguins found some answers.

YSU (12-5, 4-2 HL) held Purdue Fort Wayne (13-4, 4-2 HL) to 30 first-half points and 33.3% shooting, which helped the Penguins build a much-needed halftime lead over the Horizon League’s top team. In the end, YSU was able to survive a second-half surge by the Mastodons for a 93-85 victory at the Beeghly Center.

“That was incredible — we went with two different lineups,” head coach Jerrod Calhoun said. “We went with our man-to-man switching defense, that was one lineup. Then we went with our two-defense — our matchup zone. So when they sub certain guys, we made adjustments. I thought the adjustments were great in the first half. To hold a team like that, that’s averaging (84.4) to 30, it’s a great sign. But once again, we gave up 85. So it’s just sustainability in the second half. You saw it against Oakland, you certainly saw it here tonight. You gotta play for a full 40.”

With 13:28 to go, YSU had built its largest lead of the night — 27 points — and seemed destined to grow that margin even greater.

But with how PFW can shoot the ball, especially from three, they’re never really out of games, and that was very much the case against the Penguins.

After falling into that hole, the Mastodons immediately responded with a 16-0 run.

Anxiety started to fill the building and it was hard to escape the simple thought of “Here we go again.” PFW had YSU on its heels and had all the momentum.

“We went a little bit dry with getting the ball in the basket,” Calhoun said. “We stopped guarding and let our offense affect our defense in that stretch. So we gotta clean that up. But it’s conference play, you see that every night — strange things happen. These games are never over till the final horn. That’s what this group has to realize.”

Ziggy Reid had maintained the hot hand early for YSU, especially in the paint, and was able to end PFW’s run with a critical three-pointer.

Reid finished with 23 points and was one of three Penguins to eclipse the 20-point mark. The others were Brett Thompson with 24 points and Brandon Rush with 20. Seventeen of Thompson’s points came at the free-throw line, which sets a school record for free throws made in a game. He also tied the school record for attempts with 20.

“We gotta get (Thompson) in pick-and-rolls,” Calhoun said. “He draws a lot of fouls and plays very aggressive getting to the rim. DJ (Burns) did, Ziggy did for a while, Rush made some timely ones, but BT was relentless and that’s what you want from your guys.”

It was the first time since Jan. 25, 2001, against Western Illinois that YSU had three players score at least 20 points in the same game.

“All of the last three or four days, we were preparing for a lot of mismatch basketball with me being able to be a post player and play inside-out,” Reid said. “We were able to work on different schemes and different spots that I could get to where I’m comfortable to make those plays. I think by us preparing for them the last three days, I think it really helped out and it showed.”

Still though, the Mastodons wouldn’t go away. At the 2:14 mark, PFW had cut YSU’s lead down to three.

It was crunch time for the Penguins, and they needed someone to make a play. As the most experienced returning player on this team, it was fitting that it ended up being Rush.

After a rebound by John Lovelace Jr., Rush leaked out down the floor. Lovelace quickly threw the ball up the floor to Rush, who finished around his defender for a basket-and-1 on the break.

He completed the three-point play, and then 41 seconds later, drilled a corner three off a crosscourt assist by Thompson to put YSU up by eight with under a minute left and ice the game for the Penguins.

“Honestly, I just give it to the man above. As much as we go out and play, He gives me the strength to go out there and do different things,” Rush said. “That’s just me doing what I’ve been given the ability to do. My teammates put me in the right positions, sprayed the ball ahead and I got down for a layup. Then (Thompson) coming off the ball screen, made the nice pass to me in the corner.”

YSU now has a quick turnaround and will play its third game in six days Friday night. Wright State comes to the Beeghly Center for a nationally televised game on ESPN2. Tipoff is at 9 p.m.

“We understand that every game is critical,” Calhoun said. “Friday night, nine o’clock, ESPN — we’ve had unbelievable atmospheres here. It’s not only about us, it’s about the city. We can get some national coverage. A lot of people don’t know about our program. … It’s a pretty big honor. It’s a pretty neat thing. So let’s pack it, let’s get the red out and let’s showcase what our community is about.”

nmadhavan@tribtoday.com