Youngstown State started the 2012-13 season on the right foot with a big 80-73 road win at George Washington of the Atlantic-10.  Blake Allen paced the Penguins with 19 points, including four three-pointers, but the bench and free throw shooting to close the game out made the difference.

Damian Eargle was fouled with 40 seconds left in the game as he sank a shot to break a 71-71 tie.  Eargle hit the free throw to complete the three-point play and put YSU ahead.

Allen’s 3-pointer with 2:40 left put Youngstown State ahead 71-65, but the Colonials charged back with six straight points, the last of which was an  Isaiah Armwood dunk following a Penguins’ turnover. Armwood led George Washington with 18 points.

Youngstown State made six free throws in the final 25 seconds, and the Penguins escaped victorious after nearly blowing a late lead.  The bench played a big role in the season opening win.

Newcomer Bobby Hain played 27 minutes off of the bench and contributed 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Penguins.  DJ Cole picked up the slack off of the bench for Kendrick Perry who did not make a basket in nine shot attempts.  Cole played 28 minutes and scored twelve points and had a pair of big steals.

With the win, his 75th at YSU, Jerry Slocum tied Mike Rice for third on the school’s all-time wins list.

Not much time to celebrate this one as the Penguins head South for a game with the Georgia Bulldogs on Monday.