YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (Interstat) — Cris Carroll scored 27 points to lead Youngstown State to a 74-65 win over South Carolina Upstate in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Beeghly Center. The Penguins built a 40-28 halftime lead and withstood a second-half push from the Spartans. Carroll added seven rebounds and five assists for Youngstown State, which improved to 8-5. Karmani Gregory led all scorers with 26 points for South Carolina Upstate, which fell to 8-7. Youngstown State’s defense was pivotal, forcing 13 turnovers and recording 11 steals. The Penguins also outscored the Spartans 24-12 from three-point range. Attendance was 3,041.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (Interstat) — Cris Carroll scored 27 points and Youngstown State used a dominant first half to build a cushion it would never relinquish, holding off South Carolina Upstate 74-65 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at Beeghly Center. A crowd of 3,041 watched the Penguins improve to 8-5, while the Spartans fell to 8-7. The most critical phase of the game was the opening 20 minutes, where Youngstown State established control. The Penguins raced out to a 19-5 lead in the first six minutes, fueled by early 3-pointers from Carroll and Vladimer Salaridze, and stifling defense that forced the Spartans into a disjointed offensive rhythm. South Carolina Upstate, which entered the game averaging over 78 points per contest, was held to just 28 points on 32.1% shooting in the first half. Youngstown State, by contrast, shot 48.3% and connected on 6 of 14 from beyond the arc to take a commanding 40-28 lead into halftime. The Penguins’ defensive pressure was a constant theme, as they recorded 11 steals and forced 13 Spartan turnovers, converting them into 11 points. Youngstown State also shared the ball effectively, tallying 11 assists to just two for South Carolina Upstate. Carroll, a 6-foot-6 guard from Tallahassee, Florida, was the catalyst, adding seven rebounds and five assists to his game-high point total. His all-around performance helped offset a stellar scoring afternoon from South Carolina Upstate’s Karmani Gregory, who finished with 26 points. The Spartans showed more life after the break, cutting the deficit to single digits on several occasions. A driving layup by Gregory brought Upstate within 58-52 with just over 11 minutes remaining, prompting a Youngstown State timeout. Each time the Spartans threatened, however, the Penguins had an answer, often from Carroll or Salaridze. Salaridze, a 6-foot-7 forward from Tbilisi, Georgia, provided crucial secondary scoring with 14 points, including two timely 3-pointers in the first half. South Carolina Upstate’s effort was hampered by poor shooting from deep, making only 4 of 15 attempts from 3-point range. The Spartans also struggled to generate easy offense against Youngstown State’s length, managing only two assists for the entire game. Tyler Smith contributed eight rebounds and three assists for the Spartans, while Learic Davis added nine points and seven rebounds. Youngstown State’s balance proved decisive. Rich Rolf of Centerville, Ohio, chipped in nine points and six rebounds, while Andrew King had seven points, four rebounds and four assists. The Penguins also protected the rim, blocking five shots, with 7-footer Imanuel Zorgvol of Paramaribo, Suriname, swatting two. Despite being outscored 37-34 in the second half, Youngstown State’s lead never dipped below seven points in the final seven minutes. The Penguins sealed the game at the free-throw line, making 20 of 29 attempts, including two by Carroll with 43 seconds left to extend the lead to 74-65, the final margin. The game’s statistical profile highlighted Youngstown State’s efficiency. The Penguins scored 106.1 points per 100 possessions, while holding the Spartans to just 89.2 per 100. Youngstown State also won the battle on the glass, securing nine offensive rebounds to Upstate’s five. Carroll’s performance continued a strong stretch for the junior, coming off a 31-point effort in a narrow loss at Robert Morris three days prior. For South Carolina Upstate, the loss snapped a two-game winning streak that included victories over South Carolina State and Southern Wesleyan. Youngstown State will open Horizon League play at home against Detroit Mercy on Dec. 29. South Carolina Upstate returns to action on Dec. 31, hosting Radford in its Big South Conference opener.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (Interstat) — Two teams riding the momentum of high-scoring victories will meet Saturday when Youngstown State hosts South Carolina Upstate in a nonconference men’s basketball game at Beeghly Center. The Penguins (7-5) and Spartans (8-6) each enter following dominant home wins where they eclipsed 98 points. Youngstown State routed Division III Thiel 103-52 last Sunday, while Upstate blasted Division II Southern Wesleyan 98-63 last Wednesday. A key matchup will feature two of the nation’s emerging scorers. Youngstown State’s Cris Carroll is coming off a career-high 31-point performance in an overtime loss at Robert Morris last Wednesday. The guard has scored 17 or more points in five of his last six games, averaging 20.2 points per contest in that stretch. He will be countered by South Carolina Upstate’s Isaiah Skinner, who is coming off his most complete game of the season. In the win over Southern Wesleyan, Skinner posted 17 points and a season-best six assists in 25 minutes. The guard has provided steady backcourt production for a Spartans team that has won four of its last five. Both teams have faced challenging early schedules. The Spartans’ six losses include road defeats at North Carolina and Nebraska. The Penguins own a notable road win over Grand Canyon from opening afternoon but have since dropped close contests at Saint Bonaventure and Robert Morris. Saturday’s game represents a final nonconference tune-up before league play begins for both. Youngstown State opens Horizon League action Dec. 29 against Detroit. South Carolina Upstate begins Big South Conference play Dec. 31 against Radford. The Penguins will look to leverage home-court advantage, where they are 5-1 this season. The Spartans, 2-5 on the road, aim to build on their recent offensive surge, having averaged 85.3 points over their last three games. Tipoff is set for Saturday afternoon.