By JOHN VARGO

Tribune Chronicle

YOUNGSTOWN - Sometimes you have to overcome the unexpected.

The scoreboards near both baskets, the red lights encased in the glass backboards and the shot clocks were all sporadically lighting up as brightly as Clark Griswold's house in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."

The electronic malfunction, which emitted some frequent shot clock horns, baffled those sitting near the clock operator - resulting in a 5-minute delay before action resumed early in Sunday's Hiram-Youngstown State contest.

Hiram stymied YSU early in its home opener as the NCAA Division III Terriers befuddled the Division I Penguins as YSU maintained just a five-point advantage.

Instead of going on the in famous profane tirade, which Chevy Chase's Griswold did, the Penguins quickly reversed things in an 81-41 victory.

It all started to come together for the Penguins in the final 9 minutes of the first half.

"I don't think we knew when to take shots," said YSU coach Jerry Slocum, whose team went on a 16-3 run to pull away from the Terriers (0-1). "I think we took some bad shots. As the game went on, we got more patient.

"I thought (redshirt freshman forward) Eddie (D'Haiti) did a good job dissecting the zone and getting people some easy looks. He's a very capable offensive player, especially passing the basketball."

D'Haiti had 12 points, 10 rebounds and six assists to pace the Penguins off the bench. His distribution abilities were vividly displayed on a no-look bounce pass to Dallas Blocker - part of an 11-0 first-half run.

"It happens all the time in practice when they run the floor," D'Haiti said. "Guys know if they run the floor well it's there every time."

Every time a game like this one presents itself, it's a good chance for the Penguins (1-1) to work out any deficiencies, especially if there were any lingering following Friday's 83-57 loss at one of the nation's best teams in Xavier.

"We got out of these first two games exactly what we wanted to get out of them," Slocum said. "I thought we learned a lot about ourselves in both games. I thought Xavier was a great experience for us. It should've made us tougher. We haven't practiced probably 10 possessions against zone over the last couple of weeks.

"We got a chance tonight to play against zone the whole game (against Hiram). As the game went on, I thought we got better with it. I think we figured it out."

Vance Cooksey led YSU with 18 points, while Chris Roberts led Hiram with 16 points. The Penguins, which are a veteran team, aside from D'Haiti, had a chance to have some fun out on the floor, Slocum said.

"In those game situations, what I want to get out of it is execution. I don't look at the scoreboard," Slocum said. "I want to see good passing, unselfish play and rebounding."

McDonald High School graduate Andy Timko, who is a walk-on, had two rebounds in 4 minutes. Timko was 0-of-3 from the floor.

"What I really loved about the game, as well as we were pounding on them, we got to get Andy Timko in the game," D'Haiti said. "I wanted to get him some shots up early. It's fun when everybody's involved."

The Penguins host Kent State on Wednesday for the first of four women-men doubleheaders at Beeghly Center this season. The women tip off at 5:15 p.m., while the men begin at 7:35 p.m. The Golden Flashes' men's team, which played three games in three days, dropped to 2-1 after Sunday's overtime loss to Green Bay.

"We're going to have to play somewhere in between these two games to have a shot at Kent," Slocum said. "That's going to be important, that we keep on maturing as this young season goes along."

NOTES: Niles resident Bernie Tarr and St. Peter Chanel boys basketball coach had plenty of Firebirds alumni on both rosters. Hiram junior guard Nick Russo and freshman Coty Collier, along with YSU freshman Lamar McKnight all played for Tarr. Russo had two points, while Collier added three. McKnight did not play in Sunday's game and won't this season. McKnight and Warren G. Harding product Sheldon Brogdon will apply for redshirts after the season is complete, according to YSU Assistant Sports Information Director Jamie Hall. WGH graduate Damian Eargle, who transferred from North Carolina-Greensboro after a successful freshman campaign, will have three seasons remaining after sitting out this season because of NCAA transfer rules. Brogdon is still trying to overcome a season-ending knee injury he suffered during his senior year for the Raiders. McKnight has no injuries, but is planning to redshirt. ... Hiram freshman Steve Zivoder, a Garfield High School graduate, played 6 minutes and had a rebound in Sunday's game.

jvargo@tribtoday.com