Box Score BOX SCORE

Senior Cruz Daniels scored a season-high 18 points and pulled down eight rebounds but it wasn't enough as High Point University men's basketball team took an 82-69 loss to Youngstown State on Tuesday night in Youngstown, Ohio.

"It comes down to defense. In the second half Youngstown shot 64 percent from the field," said HPU head coach Scott Cherry. "In the first half I thought we did a good job defending. We just haven't gotten to the point where we can sustain that pressure on the defensive end. We shot 56 percent from the field in the second half so it comes down to our defense."

High Point fell to 4-6 while Youngstown State improved to 5-6. It was the Panthers' fifth road game in a row.

High Point University has scored first in every game this season, and this was no different. This time the score came when Daniels put back a layup attempt by Tehran Cox to open. The teams traded baskets early and it was tied, 8-8, before Youngstown State went on a 9-1 run that included a three-pointer and a pair of free throws by Vytas Sulskis. That made it 17-9 before HPU came back to make it an even game over the final 10 minutes of the half.

Down 17-9, Corey Law dunked on a feed from Cox and David Campbell hit a jumper from the right side. The Panthers marched back to take a 23-22 lead when Daniels hit a pair of free throws and the teams traded the lead for the remainder of the period. Nick Barbour hit a layup, jumper, three-pointer and a pair of free throws to lead HPU's scoring in the first, while Daniels pulled down seven rebounds and blocked a shot. Sirlester Martin scored 14 points in the first half to lead Youngstown State to a 32-31 edge at the break.

It stayed even in the early minutes of the second half before Youngstown State pulled out to a 59-46 lead. HPU cut into the lead on strong play by Daniels and a three-pointer by freshman Jairus Simms but the Penguins kept the heat on and were back out to a 13-point lead (74-61) when YSU called a timeout with 3:26 left in the game. The Panthers got the lead down to nine points but couldn't mount a comeback in the final minutes.

After Daniels' 18 points, Barbour scored 15 and Simms scored nine. Youngstown State was led by Martin's 20 points and three others scored in double figures: Martin (20), Sulskis (13), DeAndre Mays (10) and Zack Rebillot (10). Martin also led YSU in rebounding, with eight.

"[Daniels] had a heck of a ballgame. We was focused defensively and he played his heart out," said Cherry. "With all of our guys, the effort was there. The focus just wasn't there when we needed to dig down and make stops."

After five-straight road games, High Point University hosts four in a row starting with North Carolina Central on Dec. 29 at 7 p.m. at the Millis Center. After New Year's, HPU hosts Gardner-Webb on Jan. 2, UNC Asheville on Jan. 4 and Radford on Jan. 9.