Edwards Scores 27, But CSU Falls in First Round of League Tournament

DETROIT, Mich. – Rob Edwards scored 27 points, his 10th, 20-point game of the season, but Youngstown State used a strong second half to claim an 84-69 victory in the first round of the Horizon League Championship on Friday night at Joe Louis Arena.

CSU concludes the season at 9-22, while YSU improved to 12-20 this year and advanced to a second round game against top-seeded Oakland on Saturday at 5:30 pm.

STAT LEADERS

• Rob Edwards scored a game-high 27 points, hitting 11-of-22 from the field. He added seven rebounds and two assists in his 10^th 20-point game of the season.
• His 27 points were tied for the fourth most in a conference tournament game by a CSU player and the second most in a Horizon League tournament game, behind Jamaal Harris' 29 points vs. Detroit (3/2/2002).
• Edwards' 11 made field goals were the most by a CSU player in a Horizon League tournament game and the second most in any conference tournament contest, behind Ken McFadden's 12 vs. Southwest Missouri State (3/7/1987).
• Edwards scored the final 16 points of the game for CSU.
• Bobby Word had 10 points and four rebounds, while Kenny Carpenter added 10 points.
• Demonte Flannigan posted six points and seven rebounds, while Jamarcus Hairston scored five points.
• Kasheem Thomas finished with seven points and four assists.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first half was close throughout and featured seven ties and 10 lead changes.
• The Vikings took the largest lead of the first half (35-29) on a pair of free throws from Terrell Hales.
• CSU led by four (37-33) at halftime.
• A free throw by Jorden Kaufman tied the game for the 12^th time of the night (53-53) with 11:44 to play and the Penguins used an 11-2 run over the next five minutes to open up a nine-point lead (64-55) with 7:04 left.
• The Vikings roared back and pulled within two points (64-62) on two free throws from Edwards, but the Penguins scored 20 of the final 27 points down the stretch.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• CSU committed a season-low six turnovers, while YSU made 10.
• The Viking bench outscored YSU, 19-1.
• The Penguins held a 38-36 advantage on the boards.
• The Vikings made all 11 of their free throws, while YSU was 16-of-20 at the line.
• YSU hit 10-of-22 from three-point, including a combined 9-of-14 from Braun Hartfield and Matt Donlon.