At a Glance
Date: Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011
Place: Cleveland, Ohio
Arena: Wolstein Center
Tip Time: 2 p.m. EST
Radio: WKBN 570-AM
Play-By-Play: Robb Schmidt
Live Webcast: HorizonLeague.com
Series: CSU, 39-36
Last Meeting: CSU, 86-76, Feb. 12, 2011
The Youngstown State men's basketball team (6-6, 1-1 Horizon League) closes out 2011 and returns to Horizon League action when it visits league-leader Cleveland State, Saturday, Dec. 31. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. at the Wolstein Center. The game can be heard on 570 WKBN-AM.
The Cleveland State Series
This is the 76th meeting between Youngstown State and Cleveland State in a series that dates back to 1930. The Vikings own a slim 39-36 advantage in the all-time series and have won the last five contests. In the last meeting, Cleveland State defeated the Guins, 86-76, in Cleveland, Ohio. The last time the Guins beat the Vikings was a 64-60 win in front of a nationally-televised audience on ESPNU on Jan 23, 2009. The last time YSU won in Cleveland was a 68-63 win on Jan. 28, 2006.
About Cleveland State
Cleveland State is currently 12-2 overall and 2-0 in the Horizon League. The Vikings have two five-game winning streaks this season and have wins over Vanderbilt, Kent State, Robert Morris and Akron. CSU is coming off a 72-64 win over Toledo on Dec. 28. Leading the Vikings is senior D'Aundray Brown with 12.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.9 steals per game. Trevon Harmon is also averaging in double figures with 11.4 points per game.
Nearing 1,000 Wins
The Guins are approaching a significant milestone in the program's history. YSU has won 998 games and needs just two more to collect the program's 1,000th win.
Eargle Single-Season Blocks Rank 4th
Junior Damian Eargle has 52 blocks in 12 games this season. His total already ranks fourth on the YSU single-season blocks chart. His 91 last season rank second on the list.
Allen Streakin From 3
Junior Blake Allen has made at least one 3-pointer in all 12 games this season and has made at least one in 19 straight contests dating back to last year. He has also made at least three 3-pointers in eight of the 12 games this year. Allen also leads the Horizon League with 3.3 3-pointers made per game. Allen has also made 79 3-pointers in the last 29 games.
A Win Will
• Improve YSU 7-6 on the year and 2-1 in the Horizon League.
• Match YSU's Horizon League win total from last season.
• Mark the first time since 2007-08 the Guins started Horizon League play 2-1.
• Mark YSU's fourth road win of the season.
• Mark the program's 37th win over Cleveland State.
• Mark the first win over Cleveland State since 2009.
• Mark the first win in Cleveland since 2006.
• Mark Head Coach Jerry Slocum's 645th career victory and his 65th at Youngstown State.
• Mark YSU's 999th victory in the program's history.
Last Time Out
YSU held a seven-point lead with 3:46 to go but Robert Morris hit a 3-pointer as time expired to defeat the Guins, 59-56, on Dec. 22. Kendrick Perry led the Guins with 18 points while DuShawn Brooks and Blake Allen scored 16 and 12 points, respectively. Perry, Brooks and Allen each made four 3-pointers. Allen also dished out a career-high eight assists.
Up Next
The Guins return home to host Loyola, Thursday, Jan. 5, at 7:05 p.m. in the Beeghly Center.
Eargle Moves Into Second
Junior Damian Eargle has moved into second place on the YSU career blocks chart in just 42 games played. Eargle has 143 blocked shots. The only player ahead of Eargle is Ricky Tunstall, who recorded 221 career blocks. Counting his 57 blocks at UNC-Greensboro, Eargle has reached 200 blocked shots for his entire college career.
Perry Nearing 500 Points
Sophomore Kendrick Perry could become the 33rd player in school history to score 1,000 career points. In just 42 career games, Perry has scored 457 points and needs just 43 more to reach the mid-way point of the coveted plateau. For his career, he is averaging 10.9 points per game, including a 15.7 points per game scoring average this year.
Brooks Increasing Offensive Production
Senior DuShawn Brooks has increased dramatically his offensive from last season to this year. Brooks has scored in double figures in five of the last seven games, including two 20-point performance. Over that span, Brooks is averaged 13.9 points per game and shot 51.4 percent (36-of-70) from the field and 52.4 percent (22-of-42) from 3-point range. Last year, Brooks reached double digits just six times, scored at least 20 points just once and made a total of 21 3-pointers.
KP Notches Second Double-Double
Sophomore Kendrick Perry recorded his second career double-double with 18 points and 10 assists against Buffalo on Dec. 10. His first career double-double came against Wilberforce on Jan. 11, 2011,when he scored 13 points with 10 rebounds.
Ward Now Ranks 10th
With 15 3-pointers this season, senior Ashen Ward now ranks 10th all-time with 112 career 3-pointers. He needs two more to move into ninth and five more to move into eighth place.
Allen, Brooks Have Chance For Record
Junior Blake Allen and senior DuShawn Brooks are challenging to set the YSU single-season 3-point field-goal percentage record. Brooks is shooting 46 percent from 3-point range and Allen is shooting at a 44.0 clip from behind the arc. The single-season mark was set by Andre Smith (45.9 percent) during the 1993-94 season.
The 86 Percent
The Guins' offense has basically come from its five starters this season. Kendrick Perry, Blake Allen, Damian Eargle, Ashen Ward and DuShawn Brooks combine of an average of 57.4 points per game. As a team, the Guins are averaging 66.8 points per game, which translates into the starters scoring 86 percent of the team's points.
Brooks Named Player of the Week
For his performance last week, senior DuShawn Brooks was named the Horizon League Player of the Week for Dec. 5. Brooks averaged 20.5 points per game and shot 61.5 percent from the field and 64.3 percent from 3-point range. He scored a career-high 24 points against Detroit on Dec. 1 to lead the Guins to a 64-61 win. He also led the team with 17 points in a one-point loss to Wright State on Dec. 3. The last YSU player to earn the award was DeAndre Mays on Jan. 11, 2010.
Guins Setting Record Pace
The Guins have made 117 3-pointers in 12 games this season for an average of 9.8 3-pointers made per game. They are on pace to shatter the school's single-season mark of 235 set last year. If the Guins continue this pace over the next 18 guaranteed games, they will finish the season with 293 3-pointers made.
Last With 10 Assists
With 10 assists against Buffalo on Dec. 10, sophomore Kendrick Perry became the first player to accomplish the feat since DeAndre May did so against Valparaiso on Feb. 13, 2010.
Guins Set 3's Mark Again
For the third time this season, the Guins tied the school single-game record with 14 3-pointers made in a game against Buffalo on Dec. 10. The Guins tied the school single-game mark with 14 3-pointers game against Penn State on Nov. 23. and Notre Dame College on Nov. 15. The previous time YSU made 14 3 pointers in a game was against Butler on Jan. 9, 2011. Against the Bulls, the Guins also tied the school single-game mark for most 3-point field goals attempted with 35.
Brooks Had Career Day at Detroit
Senior DuShawn Brooks turned in a career-best performance with 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the floor, including 6-of-9 from 3-point range.
Eargle Third Nationally
Junior Damian Eargle continues to be a one of the top shot blockers in the country. Eargle currently ranks third nationally with 4.3 blocks per game. Last season, he finished the year ranked 10th in the country with 3.0 blocks per game.
Eargle Block Machine
Junior Damian Eargle has tallied at least one block in every game this season. He has also recorded multiple blocks in 10 of 11 games and has posted at least three blocks nine times.
Allen, Perry Score 20
Junior Blake Allen and sophomore Kendrick Perry became the first duo to score at least 20 points in game since Vytas Sulskis (25) and Damian Eargle (24) accomplished the feat against Malone on Dec. 13, 2010. Allen scored 25 and Perry posted 23 against Penn State on Nov. 23.
