NKyTribune staff
Don’t be deceived by Youngstown State’s 6-14 overall record and its 2-5 mark in the Horizon League. The Penguins have lost several close games to good teams this season and nearly knocked off Wright State on Thursday night before dropping an 80-74 decision.
And what makes the Penguins even more dangerous is the fact they are 0-3 at home in Horizon League play and desperately need a win in their own Beeghly Center.
NKU’s Drew McDonald averages 18.8 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. His 10 double-doubles rank 11th nationally. (Photo by Jeff McCurry)
Drew McDonald finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds and six assists as NKU posted a 91-76 victory at Cleveland State on Thursday night. Tyler Sharpe poured in 23 points for the Norse, who connected on 15 shots from 3-point range.
Zaynah Robinson came off the bench and scored 12 points in the first half — all on 3-pointers — as NKU built a 48-41 lead at the break. McDonald added 11 points and seven rebounds during the opening 20 minutes for the Norse, who shot 55.9 percent from the field in the first half.
Jalen Tate finished with 17 points and seven rebounds for NKU, while Robinson also scored 17. Robinson drained a career-high five 3-pointers, while Sharpe also made five treys. The Norse were 15-for-32 from beyond the arc — the first time since 2012 that NKU connected on at least 15 shots from 3-point range.
NKU has won seven of its last eight games and is off to its best start since 2011-12, when the Norse also started 15-4. That was NKU’s final season of competing at the NCAA Division II level.
McDonald averages 18.8 points and 10.4 rebounds per game (12th in nation). His 10 double-doubles rank 11th nationally. In his last 26 games against Horizon League opponents, dating back to March 17, 2017, McDonald has posted a double-double 18 times.
The Cold Spring native is one of five active players in Division I basketball with at least 1,700 career points (1,789) and 900 career boards (959). He is also tied for fifth place for career double-doubles (44) among active players.
Tate averages 13.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game. He has also made 59 percent of his shots from the field. Sharpe is second on the team in scoring (14.4 points per game). In 14 of NKU’s 19 games, Sharpe has made at least two 3-pointers.
Freshman guard Darius Quisenberry averages 12.7 points per game to lead Youngstown State. The Penguins own a 9-7 edge in the all-time series with NKU, which is just 2-6 when playing at Youngstown.
The Norse are 5-3 against the Penguins in the Division I era and have won the last three games in the series. In the two games last season, McDonald averaged 26.5 points and 14 rebounds against Youngstown State.
(Information compiled from NKU Athletics Communications and staff reports)
