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Shooting blanks

YSU misses 30 3-pointers; loses in opener

By John Vargo 3 min read

PITTSBURGH -- Darius Quisenberry let the basketball roll off his fingers as he had done so many times his senior season at Huber Heights Wayne High School.

The Youngstown State University freshman made a 3-pointer just before the half to cut into Pittsburgh's lead by three. He replicated the feat less than 30 seconds into the second half.

But 3-pointers were few and far between during YSU's 69-53 loss to the Panthers inside the Petersen Events Center. Pittsburgh (1-0) went on an 18-2 run after Quisenberry's second 3-pointer and extended the lead to 45-29 with about 15 minutes remaining.

YSU (0-1) was 8 of 38 from 3-point range and 18 of 67 from the floor, not the offensive firepower the Penguins had so desperately hoped for coming into this 2018-19 season. The 3-point attempts are a school record.

"We have been averaging close to 35 or 40," said YSU coach Jarrod Calhoun, who said his team averaged 13 3s in its two scrimmages. "If you make seven or eight more, or even five more, it's a different ball game."

Defensively, YSU was a much different team in this year's opener than it was last year in a 111-78 setback against Kent State. That season opener came in the Northeast Ohio Coaches vs. Cancer Classic. This year's versionj of that event is scheduled Saturday at Cleveland State where YSU will play Akron.

Olamide Pedersen, a 6-foot-9 YSU freshman with a flair for the dramatic, had three blocked shots in the first nine minutes to set the defensive tone. His energetic style kept this upstart Penguins team enthralled with a muscle flex and an emotional yell toward his bench after one defensive stand.

"It was a big momentum changer, definitely," Pedersen said. "It got the whole team fired up. We just didn't make our shots."

The Oakland Zoo, the Pitt student section parallel to both benches and behind one basket, counted for most of the 4,729 in attendance.

Tuesday's opener was against an Atlantic Coast Conference team -- granted this Pitt team was the ultimate cellar dweller, not winning an ACC game last season. Jeff Capel, a seasoned coach, took over and has tried to bridge the gap between disgruntled fans and the program.

"They're going to win here, there's no doubt about it," Calhoun said.

Three of Pittsburgh's double-figure scorers were freshmen -- Xavier Johnson (16), Trey McGowens (17) and Au'Diese Toney (12). Malik Ellison, a redshirt junior, had 13.

Pitt was 2 of 11 from 3, but was 27 of 55 from the floor.

Kendale Hampton came off the YSU bench and scored 15 points, going 4 of 10 from 3, one of the few successful long-range shooters the Penguins had in their opener.

Calhoun wasn't dismayed with Tuesday's result, something he expected and hopes his team embraces.

"When you're playing a Power 5 school, the size of the athletes are so much different," Calhoun said. "They're so much more physical, stronger. It was good for our guys.

"I think this game with Pitt should happen every other year."

Between this game and the December game at Ohio State, YSU will have earned around $175,000 for the athletic department.

It wasn't an offensive showcase in the first 20 minutes with both teams struggling to find a rhythm, but there was some defense for YSU as it forced 16 Pitt turnovers.

"I don't know if it was defense or early-November basketball," Calhoun said. "I thought it was a combination. It was like going to the dentist for both teams. It was painful to watch.

"It was early and both teams couldn't make shots."

Starting at /week.