YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO -- Just as N.C. Central solved one problem on the offensive end of the court, another popped up during Wednesday night's 70-57 loss to Youngstown State.
The Eagles shot a season-high 56.4 percent from the floor, including 14-of-20 in the second half, but their 20 turnovers were too many to overcome.
"I was definitely proud of our guys for shooting 56 percent," NCCU first-year coach LeVelle Moton said. "Turnovers -- we can't beat anyone turning the basketball over 20 times.
"Much credit to Youngstown, but I can't recall one play where they just forced a turnover. We're just jumping up throwing balls any and everywhere."
NCCU (4-18) took a 15-13 lead on a free throw by junior C.J. Wilkerson with 12:32 left in the first half.
After that, the veteran Penguins flexed their muscles during a 16-2 run over to grab a 29-17 lead with 3:13 remaining. YSU went on to lead 32-21 at halftime and later extended its lead to 49-36 on a Vytas Sulskis 3-pointer.
"Our Achilles' heel right now is just giving up second-chance opportunities," Moton said. "That's the tough thing about a zone -- we're zoning and we're matching up, but it's so difficult to locate a man to box out out of that zone."
NCCU made another second-half surge with a 9-0 run in 1:46 seconds with the help of a technical foul on YSU coach Jerry Slocum.
Wilkerson keyed the run, scoring seven points after the technical foul including a 3-pointer that pulled NCCU within 49-45 with 9:06 to go.
YSU leading scorer DeAndre Mays hit a momentum swinging 3-pointer to put the Penguins ahead by seven, and they went on a 15-2 run for a 64-47 lead with 3:58 left.
Wilkerson scored 20 second-half points for the Eagles, going 6-of-9 from the field. Sophomore Nick Chasten added 13 points while spending most of the night in foul trouble.
The Eagles have to travel just 20 minutes to the east to take on N.C. State on Saturday at 2 p.m. for their next to last road game of the season.
