Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Youngstown State junior Garrett Covington is the team’s best man-to-man defender.

YOUNGSTOWN — Garrett Covington felt the anguish of one shot after another misfiring after they left his 6-foot-5 frame, as they clanked off the rim and fell to the floor or into the opposition’s waiting hands.

The solution — go to the gym. Youngstown State University associate coach Jason Slay, in his normal upbeat tone, invited Covington to come into the gym to take more practice shots.

It’s about keeping a level head, something that echoed in Covington’s brain from words his parents and YSU coach Jerrod Calhoun had uttered. Covington heard it many times, now it needed to be repeated more than ever.

The line against Oakland on Jan. 9 read: 1 of 11 field goals, 0 of 4 from 3-point range and no free throws. The junior guard knew something had to be done even though his team was successful.

The Penguins have won four of their last five heading into tonight’s game at Northern Kentucky.

“It’s something you can’t dwell on,” Covington said. “We were winning. You take it for what it is and just continue to work. You can’t get too down on yourself and you have to remain consistent. When you’re prepared, it’ll take care of everything.”

Covington worked with his coaches on his shooting form in practices.

Two days after the Oakland disaster, he rebounded, so to speak. He made two 3-pointers and was 3 of 7 from the floor with a free throw for nine points.

Calhoun took note that Covington, one of the cornerstones of the YSU program, had the offensive jump start he so desperately needed.

“I’m really happy for Garrett,” Calhoun said. “He’s been putting in a lot of extra time in the gym. You’re always happy to see guys put in that extra time. He’s a guy that you rely on. He usually guards the other team’s best player. He’s very, very good defensively. I think the 3-point line has affected his game a little bit, get comfortable. We have a lot of games left. I expect him to get better and better.”

Covington has always been a tenacious defender. It’s the mark he’s made at YSU since his freshman year. He covered Detroit Mercy sophomore guard Antonie Davis, the Horizon League’s leading scorer who was virtually unstoppable by most defenses. To Covington, it doesn’t matter who it is. He’ll get in their face and make their life miserable for 40 minutes on the floor.

Davis, who averages more than 25 points per game, was limited to 3 of 7 shooting from the floor, 2 of 4 from 3-point range and 1-of-1 on free throws.

“I think the biggest key in the game was focusing on him, realizing he was the core to his team,” Covington said. “I think we did a great job of making him see bodies the whole game. That was most of the game plan, make sure he sees us in the paint.”

Offensively, the grind is there. No down moments, but keep pushing through. That’s what Covington did. That how the Carmel, Indiana, native approaches his life.

“You still got to put that work in, that’s what I do,” he said. “Things like this happen where I can make a shot or make 3s. Then it’s like, ‘Cool. Let’s keep working.'”