INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI basketball team shot a frigid 34 percent from the floor and dropped a home contest to Youngstown State on Thursday night (Jan. 25), 78-50. DJ Burns totaled 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Penguins as the guests shot nearly 51 percent from the floor and outrebounded IUPUI 42-31 in the victory. 

Senior Bryce Monroe paced IUPUI with 11 points and four boards and junior Jlynn Counter turned in 10 points and five rebounds. 

Youngstown State (15-6, 7-3 HL) breezed out to a 16-4 lead in the game's opening eight minutes as the Jaguars misfired on eight of 10 shot attempt to start the contest, prompting an early timeout. YSU kept the margin near double-digits for the majority of the first half and scored the final four points of the half to take a 36-21 lead to the locker room. 

The lead grew to 44-23 when Brandon Rush got loose for a fast break layup before the IUPUI defense put the clamps on the Penguins. The Jaguars held YSU scoreless for nearly six minutes during a 12-0 run that cut the lead back to nine with 12:29 remaining. However, YSU responded with a 10-2 burst to rebuild a 17-point lead with under nine minutes to play. 

IUPUI went scoreless from the three-point line, going 0-of-14 with seven different Jaguars coming up empty. Typically solid from the free throw line, the Jaguars enduring a 10-of-20 effort on Thursday, including going 3-of-9 in the first half. 

Abdou Samb finished with seven points and five rebounds and Vincent Brady II had six points and three steals. John Egbuta added five points and three rebounds off the bench. 

IUPUI will close out its three-game homestand on Sunday (Jan. 28) when the Jaguars host Wright State at noon inside Indiana Farmers Coliseum.