Detroit Mercy defeats Youngstown St 68-73

Thrilling Conference Battle: Detroit Mercy Outlasts Youngstown St 73-68

In a heart-pounding conference showdown, visiting Detroit Mercy (AWAY) edged host Youngstown St (HOME) 73-68 at the Beeghly Center on Tuesday night. The high-scoring thriller saw both teams battle for every point, ultimately resulting in a five-point margin of victory.

The game's ebb and flow was a testament to the intensity of both squads. At halftime, the away team led 32-25, with Detroit Mercy's Orlando Lovejoy (22 points) pacing the scoring charge. Youngstown St's Cris Carroll responded with 15 points in the second half, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit.

Detroit Mercy's offense proved to be a well-oiled machine, shooting 43% from the field and 47% from three-point range. The Golden Grizzlies' high-powered attack saw Lovejoy score 22 points on 50% shooting, while Ryan Kalambay chipped in with 10 rebounds and 7 points.

Youngstown St's defense struggled to contain Detroit Mercy's offense, allowing the away team to reach the free throw line frequently. The Penguins were outscored in the paint (26-22) but managed to stay within striking distance, thanks in part to Carroll's 15 points and 8 rebounds.

The turning point of the game came midway through the second half, when Detroit Mercy's Keshawn Fisher scored seven points in a 3-minute span, including three clutch three-pointers. Youngstown St attempted to mount a comeback, but ultimately fell short.

In the end, Detroit Mercy's superior shooting and rebounding edge proved decisive. The Golden Grizzlies outrebounded Youngstown St 43-39 and held a significant advantage on the glass (12-15). The Penguins' inability to contain Lovejoy and Fisher's hot shooting from beyond the arc was too much to overcome.

The win marks Detroit Mercy's first conference victory of the season, while Youngstown St falls to 0-2 in conference play.