Recap: Valparaiso vs. Youngstown St

Valparaiso, IN (Sports Network) - Ryan Broekhoff registered a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds as the Valparaiso Crusaders posted a 73-64 win over the Youngstown State Penguins in Horizon League action at the Athletics- Recreation Center.

Also putting up a double-double for the Crusaders (23-7, 12-3 HL) was Kevin Van Wijk with 15 points and a game-high 14 rebounds as the team won for the seventh time in the last eight outings and remained all alone atop the conference standings. Will Bogan contributed with 10 points and five assists.

The Penguins (16-13, 7-8), losers of two of the last three, were paced by Blake Allen with a game-high 22 points, DJ Cole added 15 and Damian Eargle 12 points, the latter becoming the 34th player in program history to reach 1,000 points for his career.

YSU shot an impressive 58.6 percent from the floor in the first half, including 3-of-5 behind the 3-point line, allowing the visitors to take a surprising 40-33 advantage at the break.

In the second half the Valpo defense dialed up the pressure. limiting the Penguins to a mere 8-of-34 (.235) from the field as the visitors lost their edge and the game.

Hitting 14-of-22 shots at the free-throw line in the final 20 minutes of play, the Crusaders ended up outscoring YSU at the charity stripe, 20-9, on the night.