YSU’s 3-point shooting was a bright spot for the team, hitting 13-of-33 shots from deep, a season-high for the Penguins. Senior forward Michael Akuchie hit three shots from behind the arc and finished with 18 points.

Penguins coach Jerrod Calhoun noted how crucial the team’s shooting success was, especially in covering for the Penguins’ issues defensively. Detroit took advantage of YSU’s sloppier possessions, scoring 20 points off turnovers as opposed to the Penguins, who scored just seven off turnovers.

“That’s the only reason we were in the game in the first half,” said Calhoun about the Penguins’ 3-point shooting. “We didn’t guard at all, we gave up 44 points. A lot of the defense was our turnovers. We literally just gave them the ball numerous times against the zone. I don’t know what our total was, but a lot of those were all in the first half.

“Those were very uncharacteristic, usually we’re a very good team at taking care of the ball. I think they had 15 points at halftime off our turnovers, and that was the difference.”

Staff photo / Brian Yauger -- Myles Hunter drives to the basket past multiple Detroit defenders to lay the ball up. The Penguins lost their fifth game by 10 points or less in a 78-75 loss to Detroit Mercy.

The Penguins, who are starting two freshmen guards, have had difficulty in adjusting to teams that run a zone defense.

“It’s a learning process. We’re still struggling against zones,” Calhoun said. “It takes us like a full game of live action to figure out how to play against a zone. You practice it for four straight days, but when you’re young, and you lack experience, it’s very difficult.

“They just made one more play than us. That’s how it goes in sports. A lot of ups and downs and you’ve got to give them credit.”

Antonie Davis, who never left the court for the Titans, scored 25 points for Detroit, 14 of which came in the second half. After being tightly defended in the first half, Davis was able to shake the Penguin defense to make plays when it counted. Bul Kuol hit multiple shots in the second half to help keep the Titans out in front.

“I think a first-team, all-league player (Davis) put the team on his back and made play after play in the second half,” Calhoun said. “I think we did a pretty good job on Antoine in the first half, but all-league guys are going to step up and make plays. Once he got going, he was very, very difficult to guard.

Staff photo / Brian Yauger -- Naz Bohannon scans the court for an open teammate during Friday’s game. Bohannon finished with six assists.

“We ended up trapping him, getting the ball out of his hands. He had scored a bunch in a row. We made sure to get the ball out of his hands and then Kuol, I thought, made the biggest shot of the game. We were late on a rotation and he made a big play.”

Garrett Covington, who led the Penguins with 24 points, shot 5-of-6 from deep and kickstarted multiple runs for YSU. Freshman Shemar Rathan-Mayes added 13 points.

The Penguins (8-9, 4-9) hit the court again tonday against Detroit Mercy at 5 p.m.

“We’ll have to regroup,” Calhoun said. “It is what it is. You can’t get these games back. Sports are a tricky thing. It’s possessions. Every game in this league usually comes down to a possession or two and when you lose on Friday it really stings. But the reality is these are two-game series and we’ve got to bounce back really, really quick, because Detroit’s a very good basketball team.”