Game Preview
• The Youngstown State men's basketball team opens a four-game home stand when it hosts Cleveland State in its Horizon League home opener, Monday, Jan. 13.
• Tipoff is slated for 7:05 p.m. at the Beeghly Center in Youngstown, Ohio.
• The game can be heard on 570 WKBN-AM and iHeartRadio.
• Fans can also watch the game live ESPN3.com and SportsTimeOhio.
Last Time Out
• The Penguins picked up their first Horizon League win of the season with a 75-62 win at UIC on Jan. 7.
• The Penguins shot an impressive 58.3 percent from the field and connected on 46.7 percent from 3-point range.
• Defensively, the Penguins held the Flames to 38.2 percent from the floor, including 25.9 percent in the second half.
• Senior Kendrick Perry led four players scoring in double figures with 23 points, seven assists and five steals.
• Senior Kamren Belin scored 15 while junior DJ Cole and sophomore Bobby Hain each had 12.
The Cleveland State Series
• This is the 80th meeting between Youngstown State and Cleveland State in a series that dates back to 1931.
• Cleveland State owns a slim 41-38 advantage in the all-time series.
• The Penguins and Vikings have split the season series the last two seasons.
• Last year, the Penguins won at the Beeghly Center, 73-59, while the Vikings were victorious at the Wolstein Center, 66-60.
Scouting Cleveland St.
• The Vikings enter the game with a 10-7 overall mark and a 2-1 record in Horizon League play.
• Cleveland State is coming off two straight league wins over Milwaukee, 77-49, on Jan. 4 and Detroit, 73-63, on Jan. 8.
• Leading the Vikings is sophomore Bryn Forbes with 15.8 points per game.
• Three other Vikings are in double figures as well.
• Trey Lewis is averaging 13.2 points per game while Anton Grady and Jon Harris are posting 10.4 and 10.3 points per game, respectively.
Last time Out
• The Penguins picked up a much needed win at UIC, 75-62, on Jan. 7.
• Senior Kendrick Perry led the Penguins with 23 points, seven assists and five steals.
• Senior Kamren Belin scored 15 points while junior DJ Cole and sophomore Bobby Hain each scored 12 points.
Penguins Nationally
• With 150 3-point field-goals made, the Penguins rank fifth nationally in that category. • They also rank third with 291 total assists and eight with 145 steals.
• Senior Kendrick Perry ranks third nationally with 380 total points and fourth in total steals with 51 and 124 field-goals made.
• Perry's 3.0 steals per game average ranks 11th nationally and his 21.1 points per game scoring average ranks 21st .
A Win Will
• Improve YSU to 11-8 and 2-2 in the Horizon League
• Mark YSU's 39th win over Cleveland State.
• Mark YSU's second straight win over Cleveland State at the Beeghly Center.
• Mark YSU's seeventh home win of the season.
• Mark Head Coach Jerry Slocum's 684th career victory and his 103rd at Youngstown State.
• Mark YSU's 1,037th victory in the program's history.
KP Double Digit Streak
• Senior Kendrick Perry has scored in double figures in his last 25 games, dating back to last season.
• Perry has scored 520 points during that time for an average of 20.7 points per game.
Hain, Weber Keys To Success
• The play of sophomores Bobby Hain and Ryan Weber have been critical to the Penguins' success.
• In the Penguins' 10 wins, Weber is averaging 11.6 points per game and connecting on 44.2 percent from 3-point range.
• Hain is averaging 11.2 points per game and shooting 55.7 percent.
• In YSU's eight losses, Hain is scoring 9.9 points per game and Weber is at 9.3 points per contest.
• YSU is 8-4 when Hain reaches double figues and 6-4 when Weber scores at least 10 points.
|