The Penguins are desperately trying to make up ground after falling far behind in the Horizon League.

A slew of turnovers and poor shots doomed YSU, however, in a 77-72 loss to the Titans. The Penguins went the final 2:34 without scoring.

After seemingly having late-game heroics on the Dom Rosselli Court last season against the likes of Oakland, Detroit, and Green Bay, the Penguins have found ways to lose close contests in 2021.

Just like the Beeghly Center this winter without fans, the jar of magic is empty.

Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Freshman Myles Hunter passes outside during the first half, he had 10 points.

“I’m more disappointed for us guys,” YSU coach Jerod Calhoun commented following the loss. “I think it’s the way we’re losing. Last Friday, you lost at a tip-in at the buzzer, (Saturday), you lost in a single possession. I can’t tell you how many coaches have said, your year would be so much different with Darius Quisneberry, first-team all-league player, there hasn’t been a coach that we’ve played that hasn’t said that.”

“But you know what, our guys have never ever made any excuses. The reality of it is, we didn’t have very much practice. We sat out all of November, we got thrown into the fire, we just somehow got to find a way to win these close games.”

YSU trailed the entire first half, as two time all-league guard Antoine Davis recorded 15 out of his 24 points to help the Titans (6-8, 5-5) lead 38-34 going into the intermission.

Freshman Myles Hunter made a second-chance layup early in the second half to make it 38 all, as YSU and Detroit played a closely contested half where neither team took a lead of three or more points until the Penguins led 64-59 with 6:29 to go.

A pair of three pointers by Bul Koul and a driving layup off the hands of Davis made it 67-64 in favor of the road team. Detroit held a lead until Rathan-Mayes’ aforementioned trey with 2:34 to go.

Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Senior Garrett Covington rushes to save a loose ball during the first half.

Following a missed 3-pointer from Koul, Rathan-Mayes took an ill-advised three early in the possession, the first of five misses in the final minutes for YSU. Moments later, Davis helped the Titans tie, then took a lead on free throws following a foul on Garrett Covington. On the next possession, Naz Bohannon was forced into a bad pass to Michael Akuchie that sailed off the floor while being guarded tightly by Kuol.

Down 75-72 with the shot clock turned off, Daniel Ogoro’s pass to Rathan-Mayes was tipped off the hands of Marquell Fraser, then quickly scooped up by Dwanye Rose Jr. A pair of made free throws at the charity stripe from Rose officially sank YSU at 77-72.

“The reality of it is, every game, it’s a one possession game, so you know it’s deflating, it’s disappointing.” Calhoun said “But I think that people that persevere and are champions in life, they continue to go, they continue to keep going.

“My wife is a big believer in, this is where we’re supposed to be. We knew coming to Youngstown, we wanted to get this basketball program where it needed to be, we’re going to continue to do that. I think our players have been tremendous throughout this whole ordeal, this has been an utter disaster to be honest with you, dealing with all the different things we’re dealing with.”

Bohannon led YSU (8-10, 4-10) with 20 points and 11 rebounds for his third triple double of the season, with Garrett recording 12 points. Akuchie and Hunter each added 10.

The Penguins have now dropped six out of their last seven after being picked second in the Horizon League preseason poll. They will play four of their last six at home.

Youngstown State will make its final road trip of the regular season this weekend against Horizon League newcomer Robert Morris (3-9, 2-7).