"Icy start dooms Penguins" was a common headline at Youngstown State in 2007-08.

The Penguins trailed at halftime in 21 games this season and lost 19 of them. They were outscored by a combined 1,060-910 margin during the first half this season, compared to just 1,040-1,034 after intermission.

A season-ending 70-59 loss to Illinois-Chicago in the first round of the Horizon League tournament reflected the painful pattern. Youngstown State shot 28 percent from the field and 21 percent (3-of-14) from 3-point range in the first half and trailed by 16 at the break. A 45-percent shooting effort in the second half was too little, too late.

"We lost the game in the first half due to self-inflicted wounds," Penguins head coach Jerry Slocum said after the game, providing an epitaph for the entire season.

Youngstown State was a surprise contender in the early going, winning two of its first three conference contests. The sluggish starts took their toll, however, as the squad lost 12 of its last 14 games to finish ninth in the league. It's not much consolation, but at least that was one spot above where the Penguins were picked to finish in the preseason poll.

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