Youngstown State took care of business at the Beeghly Center, defeating IU Indianapolis 85-76 in a non-conference matchup. The Penguins' victory was fueled by a balanced attack, with three players scoring in double figures. Bryson Dawkins was the standout performer, recording 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. His all-around effort helped Youngstown State overcome a strong first-half showing from IU Indianapolis.
The Greyhounds came out hot, taking a 39-34 lead into halftime. Jaxon Edwards was a key factor in IU Indianapolis' early success, scoring 15 points and grabbing 11 rebounds on the night. However, Youngstown State adjusted its strategy in the second half, outscoring IU Indianapolis 51-37 to take control of the game. Cris Carroll and Tae Blackshear joined Dawkins in double figures, scoring 18 and 14 points, respectively.
CHD Scout's pre-game prediction had Youngstown State winning by 11.5 points, and while the final margin was slightly narrower at 9 points, the Penguins' victory was never seriously in doubt in the second half. The predicted score of 84-73 was close to the actual outcome, with Youngstown State's 85 points and IU Indianapolis' 76 points mirroring the expected totals.
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Final
The game was marked by a series of runs, with Youngstown State using a 12-2 spurt in the second half to take a commanding lead. IU Indianapolis struggled to keep pace, despite Edwards' strong performance and 15 points from Matt Compas. Micah Davis added 9 points and 5 assists for the Greyhounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Penguins' depth and balanced attack.
This win is a Quadrant 4 victory for Youngstown State, which may not significantly boost their tournament resume but does help to pad their overall record. The Penguins, now 11-12 on the season, want to build on this momentum as they continue their schedule. For IU Indianapolis, the loss is a Quadrant 3 defeat, which won't hurt their resume too much but does drop them to 6-18 on the year.
The outcome of this game has minimal implications for Youngstown State's tournament chances, as they still have a long way to go to become a viable contender. However, the win does help to maintain their current pace and provides a much-needed confidence boost. As the season enters its final stretch, the Penguins must string together more victories like this one to make a push for a postseason berth. For now, they'll take the win and look to build on the strong performances from Dawkins, Carroll, and Blackshear.