YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP)—DuShawn Brooks came off the bench and scored 20 points to help Youngstown State hold off Samford 64-61 in both teams’ season opener Friday night.
Brooks—who transferred from Butler County Community College (Kan.) earlier this year—made the most of his debut for the Penguins as he shot 8-for-18 from the field, grabbed six rebounds and had two steals.
The Bulldogs held Youngstown State to 30.3 percent shooting in the first half and entered halftime with a 24-23 lead.
Despite shooting 13-for-23 from the field in the second half, the Bulldogs missed 12 second-half free throws and trailed by as many as 10 points.
Samford guard Jeffrey Merritt scored a career-high 19 points on 8 of 9 shooting and had 11 rebounds for his first career double-double in the loss.
Vytas Sulskis had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Penguins.
