Youngstown State defeats Bethune-Cookman 67-51

[IAA Fan]

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Kendrick Perry scored 15 points and Damian Eargle and Blake Allen contributed triple-doubles to lead Youngstown State over Bethune-Cookman 67-51 Friday night in a nonconference game.

Eargle had 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Allen added 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Penguins (7-5). Bobby Hain scored 14 points and Perry had seven assists and eight rebounds for Youngstown State, which had a 50-32 rebounding edge.

Youngstown State led by as many as 16 points in the first half and 33-21 at halftime before Bethune-Cookman (5-9) got within five points, 48-43, with 9:50 left.

Two free throws by Perry, a 3-pointer by Allen and an Eargle jumper restored the lead to double figures, 59-48. Bethune-Cookman got it down to 59-51 with 2:40 left before Youngstown State scored the final eight points.

Adrien Coleman scored 17 points and Alex Smith had 13 points and 10 rebounds to pace the Wildcats.

[Wick250]

OK, so we finish the pre-conference schedule at 5-5 against real teams.  On the surface that looks mediocre, until you consider that only two of those games were at home.  Four road wins before January is good, perhaps unprecedented in our D1 history.  High points were, of course, the wins at George Washington, Georgia, and Bowling Green.  Disappointment had to be the failure to win one of the neutral court games in Pittsburgh.  What will transpire in  the league?