| Penguins Fall to Detroit, 62-54, On Senior Day |
| Saturday, February 27 2010 |
| Courtesy of: YSU |
| Youngstown -- Senior DeAndre Mays scored a team-high 13 points and classmate Kelvin Bright added 11 but the Youngstown State men's basketball team shot just 35.3 percent from the field and dropped a 62-54 decision to Detroit on Senior Day on Saturday afternoon at the Beeghly Center. The Penguins finish the regular season with an overall record of 8-21 and 2-16 in the Horizon League while Detroit improves to 18-13 overall and 9-9 in the league. Junior Vytas Sulskis added 10 points with a team-high six rebounds while Mays also dished out four assists. Senior Dallas Blocker also posted eight points. The Penguins trailed just 41-37 with 15:49 left on highlight-reel dunk by Kelvin Bright, but the Titans scored 11 straight points over the next six-and-a-half minutes to take a 52-37 lead with 9:23 left. The Titans led by as many as 16 on a Simon free throw at the 6:42 mark. Sulskis and Martin each hit final-minute 3-pointers to cut the deficit down to eight points. Sulskis triple brought the Guins within 10, 61-51, with 49 seconds left and Martin's was the final basket of the game with 30 seconds to go. YSU made five fewer field goals than the Titans in the first half, but the Penguins went 4-for-8 from 3-point range to keep the deficit to five at halftime. The Titans outscored YSU 20-4 in the paint in the opening period behind nine points from Kennedy and six from Xavier Keeling. Both teams started slow on the offensive end as the score was tied at 8-8 when YSU's Vytas Sulskis hit a 3-pointer with 12:51 remaining. A Sirlester Martin triple at the 9:47 mark gave the Penguins their first lead, but Detroit scored the next six points and went ahead 25-19 on a Chase Simon bucket with just under four minutes left. The Titans scored the final four points of the half after Sulskis' pair of charity tosses cut the margin to one with 1:15 left. The 10th-seeded Penguins will take on the third-seeded Green Bay Phoenix, Tuesday, March 2, in the first round of the Speedway Horizon League Championship. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. EDT. |
| Men's Basketball Hosts Detroit in Season Finale on Senior Day |
| Saturday, February 27 2010 |
| Courtesy of: YSU |
| The Youngstown State men’s basketball team (8-20, 2-15) closes out the regular season and honors its seniors when it hosts Detroit on Senior Day, Saturday, Feb. 27. Tipoff is set for 2:05 p.m. and is part of a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader. The game will be broadcast live on 570 WKBN AM and the Horizon League Network. This is the the 27th meeting between Youngstown State and Detroit in a series that dates back to 1953. Detroit owns a 19-7 advantage in the all-time series and has won the last two contests, including an 82-71 decision earlier this season. The last time these two teams met at the Beeghly Center, Detroit came away with a 68-64 overtime victory. Youngstown State had won the previous five meetings. Youngstown State Head Coach Jerry Slocum is one of 18 active coaches with more than 600 ca- reer victories. He currently ranks seventh among active Division I coaches with 629 career wins. The Penguins are coming off a their second-straight last-second loss with a 76-73 defeat by Wright State. Troy Tabler’s 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds remaining broke a 73-73 tie and lifted the Raiders to the victory. Senior Sirlester Martin led the Penguins with 16 points off the bench while junior Vytas Sulskis led the Penguins with 15 points. Senior DeAndre Mays added 14 points and sophomore Ashen Ward scored a career-high 12 points. Junior Vytas Sulskis continues to move up the Youngstown State all-time 3-point chart. With 38 3-pointers made this season, Sulskis now ranks seventh all-time with 123 career 3-pointers. He needs four more to move into sixth place surpassing Ryan Patton who made 126 from 1998- 2002. His season-high for 3-pointers made was 46 in 2007-08. |
| Final-Second Basket By Raiders Sinks Penguins, 76-73 |
| Friday, February 26 2010 |
| Courtesy of: YSU |
| Youngstown -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team suffered its fourth straight heartbreaking defeat dropping a 76-73 contest to Wright State on Thursday night at the Beeghly Center. YSU tied the game with 17.8 seconds left on a layup by Vytas Sulskis. The Raiders went right back up the floor and Troy Tabler's deep 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds left was the game-winner. From the 12-minute mark to the final buzzer the contest was a nip-and-tuck affair with neither team leading by more than four points. The second half featured five lead changes and three ties while the game had six ties and 11 lead changes. Youngstown State never led again after grabbing a 64-63 lead on a Sulskis layup with 3:32 left in the game. But the Guins made the Raiders, who clinched the No. 2 seed in next week's Horizon League Tournament with the win, work for the win down the to the final second. Wright State took a 66-64 lead when N'Gai Evans made a driving layup and free throw at the 3:20 mark. On the Guins' ensuing possession, Brown picked Sulskis' pocket and slammed it home 15 seconds later to boost the lead to 68-64. Trailing by four with 1:24 remaining DeAndre Mays converted two free throws to cut the deficit in half. Wright State's Ronnie Thomas missed his next two free-throw attempts with 55.1 seconds remaining. As Sulskis grabbed the rebound in the corner he was fouled. With 52.4 seconds left, Sulskis drained both attempts tying the contest at 70. WSU's Vaughn Duggins took the ball to the hoop and was fouled by Dallas Blocker with 44.3 ticks left. Duggins converted both shots to put the Raiders in front 72-70. Mays made one free throw with 37.2 left to cut the deficit to 72-71. YSU was forced to foul Troy Tabler with 28 seconds left and he made just the second of his two attempts. The Penguins didn't panic and tied the game with 17.8 ticks left when Mays dished off to Sulskis who tied the game on a driving layup. That set the stage for Cooperwood's dramatic 3-pointer in the final second. The Penguins drop to 8-20 overall and 2-15 in the Horizon League and have now lost their last four games by a total of nine points. YSU had lost its previous three contests by just two points. Wright State improves to 19-10 and 12-5 and will be the tournament's number two seed. YSU had four players finish in double figures led by Sirlester Martin's 16 points. Sulskis had 15, Mays finished with 14 and Ashen Ward notched a career-best 12 points. Sulskis also grabbed 10 rebounds to finish with his second career double-double. For Wright State, six players finished in double figures led by Brown's 16. YSU dominated the boards with a 37-21 advantage. YSU shot 49.1 percent (28-of-57) while WSU hit at a 54.3 percent clip (25-of-46). Trailing by five with just over eight minutes left in the first half, the Penguins used an impressive 18-1 run, at one time scoring 13 unanswered points, turning a 22-17 deficit into a 35-23 lead with 2:13 left before the break. But Wright State scored the final nine points as the first half ended with YSU ahead 35-32. For awhile it looked like the Penguins were going to run away with a large halftime lead, but WSU roared back. Martin and Ward spearheaded the 18-1 run as each scored seven points. The lone Raider point during that stretch was a free throw by N'Gai Evans at the 2:57 mark, which momentarily halted a string of 13 consecutive Penguin points. Wright State concluded the half with the final nine points starting with a Duggins bucket. WSU pulled within three points on a three-point play by Cory Cooperwood with 52 seconds left. Both teams shot 44 percent in the opening stanza with the Guins converting 13-of-29 shots while the Raiders made 11-of-25 attempts. The Penguins had 19-13 advantage on the glass and made 6-of-7 free-throw attempts. Martin had 14 in the first half, while Ward finished with 10. The Penguins play their final home game of the season on Saturday when they play host to Detroit. The contest is the Horizon League Network Game of the Week and will tipoff at 2:05 p.m. |
| Penguins Take On UC-Riverside Tonight in Annual BracketBuster |
| Saturday, February 20 2010 |
| Courtesy of: YSU |
| The Youngstown State men’s basketball team (8-18, 2-14 Horizon League) plays its final regular -season road game when it takes on UC-Riverside in the annual BracketBuster, Saturday, Feb. 20. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. (EDT) at the UC-Riverside Student-Recreation Center in Riverside, Calif. The game will also be broadcast live on 570 WKBN AM. Opening Notes • This is the first ever meeting between Youngstown State and UC-Riverside. • Youngstown State Head Coach Jerry Slocum is one of 18 active coaches with more than 600 career victories. He currently ranks seventh among active Division I coaches with 629 career wins. • The Penguins are coming off a hard-fought 64-62 road loss at Horizon League foe Milwaukee on Feb. 15. Senior DeAndre Mays led the Penguins with 23 points while junior Vytas Sulskis added 12 points. The Penguins trailed by 13 points with 2:38 left in the game and were able to cut the deficit down to one with four seconds left. Sophomore Ashen Ward’s 3-pointer was waved off as the clock expired. • Junior Vytas Sulskis continues to move up the Youngstown State all-time 3-point chart. With 37 3-pointers made this season, Sulskis now ranks seventh all-time with 122 career 3-pointers. He needs five more to move into sixth place surpassing Ryan Patton who made 126 from 1998-2002. • In less than two full seasons, seniors Kelvin Bright, Sirlester Martin and DeAndre Mays have eclipsed the 500 career point total at YSU. Mays has scored 702 points, Bright has scored 602 career points and Martin has totaled 554. • Junior Vytas Sulskis has scored 867 career points and needs 133 more to become the 32nd player in school history to score 1,000 career points. A Win Will • Improve YSU to 9-18 overall • Mark the program’s first win over UC-Riverside. • Mark the program’s first BracketBusters road victory. • Snap a six-game losing streak. • Mark YSU’s third road of the season. • Mark Head Coach Jerry Slocum’s 630th career victory and his 50th at Youngstown State. • YSU’s 984th victory in the program’s history. The UC-Riverside Series This is the first meeting between Youngstown State and UC-Riverside. Scouting UC-Riverside UC-Riverside enters the game with a 10-15 record and have won two of the last three contests. The Highlanders are coming off a 74-57 win over UC-Irvine on Feb. 17. Leading the Highlanders is Kyle Austin who leads the team with 18.3 points per game. Larry Gurganious is averaging 8.1 points per game. UC-Riverside is 4-9 in the Big West Conference. Mays Movin’ Up Since the start of the new year, DeAndre Mays has increased his scoring average by 2.8 points per game from 11.8 to 14.6 per contest. His overall scoring average ranks eighth in the Horizon League. More impressively, Mays has moved into fifth-place in the league scoring race in Horizon League games only. In 16 games, Mays is averaging 15.4 points per game. The Dallas, Texas, native is also dishing out 3.3 assists per game versus league foes. Sulskis Closing In on 1,000 Junior Vytas Sulskis is inching his way toward becoming the 32nd player in school history to score 1,000 career points. Sulskis, who has scored 867 points, needs 133 more to reach 1,000. He scored in double figures in 17 of 26 games this season, including 12 against Xavier (11/13), 10 against Hiram (11/15), 15 against Kent State, 10 against Geneva (11/24),14 against Detroit (12/3), 17 against Green Bay (12/19),13 against High Point (12/22), 17 against UIC (1/7), 11 against Valparaiso (1/16), 11 against Milwaukee (1/22), 11 against North Carolina Central, 12 against Loyola (2/4), 21 against UIC (2/6), 14 against Butler (2/11), a season-high 24 against Valparaiso (2/13) and 12 against Milwaukee (2/15). Mays Lately Over the last 14 games, senior DeAndre Mays has been stellar. The Dallas, Texas, native is averaging 17 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game and has scored in double figures in 13 of the 14 games, including the last nine. Mays Notches First Double-Double With 16 points and 10 assists against Valparaiso on Feb. 13, senior DeAndre Mays recorded his first career double-double. He became the first YSU player since Derrick Harris had 10 points and 12 assists against Canisius on Feb. 16, 2006, to record a points-assists double-double. Sulskis Collects First Double-Double Just like DeAndre Mays, junior Vytas Sulskis recorded his first career double-double with a season-high 24 points and tied a career-high 11 rebounds against Valparaiso on Feb. 13. 20-20 Vision Against UIC on Feb. 6, DeAndre Mays and Vytas Sulskis each eclipsed te 20-point plateau with 22 and 21 points. The duo is the first pair of Penguins to score at least 20 points in a game since Vance Cooksey (24) and Kelvin Bright did it against Kent State in 2008. Six Reach Doubles Against Loyola on Feb. 4, six Penguins scored in double figures. It marked the first time that many YSU players reached double digits since a 96-59 win over Allegheny on Nov. 22, 2008. Sulskis Now Seventh Junior Vytas Sulskis continues to move up the Youngstown State all-time 3-point chart. With 37 3-pointers made this season, Sulskis now ranks seventh all-time with 122 career 3-pointers. He needs five more to move into sixth place surpassing Ryan Patton who made 126 from 1998-2002. Bright, Martin, Mays in 500-Point Club In less than two full seasons, seniors Kelvin Bright, Sirlester Martin and DeAndre Mays have eclipsed the 500 career point total at YSU. Mays has scored 702 points, Bright has scored 602 career points and Martin has totaled 554. First-Half Highs Against Loyola on Feb. 4, the Penguins set several first-half season highs. The Guins’ new first-half bests include points (53), field-goals made (19), 3-point field-goals made (9), field-goal percentage (.633) and assists (12). Up Next The Penguins return home to host Wright State, Thursday, Feb. 25. Tipoff is set for 7:35 p.m. and is part of a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader. |
| Ward's Buzzer-Beater Waved Off in 64-62 Loss to Milwaukee |
| Tuesday, February 16 2010 |
| Courtesy of: YSU |
| Milwaukee, Wis. -- Youngstown State used a feverish rally in the last two-and-a-half minutes of the game to cut a 13-point deficit down to one but sophomore Ashen Ward's apparent game-winning 3-pointer was waved off as the Penguins dropped a 64-62 decision to Milwaukee on Monday evening at U.S. Cellular Arena. The Penguins fall to 8-18 overall and 2-14 in the Horizon League while Milwaukee improves to 15-12 overall and 7-8 in the league. The Penguins trailed 60-47 with 2:38 to go in the game after a 3-point play by Milwaukee's Jason Averkamp. After a Zack Rebillot tip-in, senior DeAndre Mays, who led the Penguins with 23 points, buried two consecutive 3-pointers and senior Kelvin Bright made a layup with 41 seconds to bring the Guins within three, 60-57. Averkamp extended the Panthers' edge back to five, but Ward's offensive rebound on a Mays missed 3-pointer and subsequent layup put the Guins down 62-59 with 18 seconds remaining. The Penguins forced an Averkamp turnover under Milwaukee's basket with 12.9 seconds remaining, but turned the ball back over to the Panthers with eight seconds left. Milwaukee's Jerard Ajami made just one of two charity tosses and Mays responded with his third triple to bring the Guins within one, 63-62, with four seconds to go. Ryan Haggerty converted only one free throw to extend the Panthers' lead to 64-62 and Ward's did not get his final 3-point off before the buzzer. After owning a 31-28 halftime edge and extending that lead to four points, 39-35, with 14:34 to go, the Penguins went scoreless for more than six minutes and recorded just eight more points until Rebillot's put-back at the 2:20 mark. In the first half, the Penguins and Panthers battled through four ties and 10 lead changes before the Penguins were able to score the six of the last seven points of the stanza to take a 31-28 lead into the lockerroom. Mays' first 3-pointer of the game gave the Penguins a 28-27 advantage with 3:01 left and converted a free throw to put the Guins up two, 29-27, with 1:07 left. After a free throw by Averkamp, freshman Eddie D'Haiti's layup with 39 seconds to go finished the scoring in the half. Junior Vytas Sulskis also reach double figures for the Penguins with 12 points, including eight in the first half. Youngstown State visits UC-Riverside, Saturday, Feb. 20, at 9 p.m. in the 2010 BracketBusters. |
| Valparaiso gets past Youngstown State 77-75 |
| Sunday, February 14 2010 |
| Courtesy of: AP Wire |
| YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP)—Brandon Wood scored 22 points and Matt Kenney got five of his 15 in the final 49 seconds as Valparaiso beat Youngstown State 77-75 on Saturday night. Two layups by Wood brought the Crusaders (14-14, 9-7 Horizon League) within a point, 72-71, with 1:30 left. A dunk by Kenney gave them a 73-72 lead at the 49-second mark, and he was 4-for-4 on free throws the rest of the way. Vytas Sulskis scored 11 points to help the Penguins (8-17, 2-13) lead 17-6 with 10:19 remaining in the first half. He finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Valparaiso responded with a 17-2 run, ending with three baskets by Wood, two of them 3-pointers. A 3-pointer and a jumper by Sulskis cut an eight-point Valparaiso lead in the second half to 38-35 with 16:24 left, and it stayed close after that. Cory Johnson added 19 points for Valparaiso. Kelvin Bright scored 18 and DeAndre Mays 16 for Youngstown State. |
| Butler does it — again |
| Friday, February 12 2010 |
| Courtesy of: JOE SCALZO Vindicator sports staff |
| YOUNGSTOWN — For the first 30 minutes of Thursday’s game, it was hard to tell whether Youngstown State or Butler was the No. 15 team in the country. For the last 10 minutes, there wasn’t any doubt. Butler senior Gordon Hayward scored 22 points and grabbed 17 rebounds and the nationally-ranked Bulldogs used a 15-2 run to put the game away en route to a 68-57 win over the Penguins in a Horizon League game at Beeghly Center. YSU trailed by four, 53-49, with just under six minutes left when the Bulldogs made their run. “We didn’t make shots and they made shots,” said junior Vytas Sulskis, “and they came out victorious.” Still, it was an encouraging performance for YSU, which was trounced in its first meeting with the Bulldogs. In that Jan. 16 meeting, the Penguins fell behind 49-26 at halftime and ended up losing by 30. “It was definitely motivating,” said Sulskis of that loss. “We came out with a chip on our shoulders and we wanted to beat them.” Butler took a quick 16-5 lead to start Thursday’s game, but the Penguins responded with a 23-4 run fueled by 12 points from senior guard DeAndre Mays. Mays finished with 18 points and three rebounds and was extremely active on defense, using his long arms and quickness to keep Butler from getting comfortable on the perimeter. “He’s really good,” said Butler coach Brad Stevens of Mays. “He can do a lot of things. “I think [YSU] did a great job tonight. They were playing with great presence on both sides of the ball.” The Bulldogs withstood YSU’s run and chipped away at the deficit before a three-point play by Hayward gave them a 31-30 lead in the closing seconds of the first half. YSU entered the break trailing by that score, but considering the team’s first meeting, it was hard to be disappointed. “Other than the 23-4 run in the middle of the first half, we played well and we knew we had to play well,” said Stevens. “The thing is, when they hit great shots like they did in the first half, our guys do a good job of staying even-keel and not panicking.” That poise comes from knowing they’re going to get every Horizon League team’s best shot. “Part of it’s hard because you know you’re always going to get that but part of it makes you heighten your preparation and focus and I think that’s a good thing for college-age kids,” said Stevens. Butler (22-4, 15-0) clinched the league title outright with the victory — the Bulldogs entered the night with a five-game lead on Cleveland State — and has won 14 straight games, the second-longest streak in school history. It’s also the second-best current streak in the country behind Siena’s 15 straight. Those teams meet on Feb. 20. Matt Howard had 11 points and Willie Veasley added 10 for the Bulldogs, who are 18-2 all-time against YSU, winning of 18 of the last 19 meetings. Sulskis scored 14 points and Vance Cooksey had 11 for the Penguins, who are 1-23 against nationally-ranked opponents. The lone victory came in 1952. “I thought our kids played hard,” said YSU coach Jerry Slocum. “I thought we did a good job defending Howard. I thought the turning point was when he got his fourth foul [with 10 minutes left] and they went small. “That was a tough matchup for us.” The Penguins have lost eight straight Horizon League games since beating UIC and Loyola back-to-back in early January. Their lone win in the last month came against North Carolina Central. The Penguins play host to Valparaiso on Saturday night, then play three more league games before the league tournament begins March 2. “We know we can beat anyone in the Horizon League,” said Sulskis. “We’re going to build up on it [Thursday’s performance] and bring it on Saturday.” scalzo@vindy.com |
| Penguins Put Scare Into No. 15 Butler Before Falling Short |
| Friday, February 12 2010 |
| Courtesy of: YSU |
| Youngstown -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team put a scare into 15th-ranked Butler, but the Penguins came up short dropping a 68-57 contest to the Bulldogs on Thursday night at the Beeghly Center. YSU was within four points with just under six minutes remaining, before Butler grabbed control for good. The Penguins (8-16 overall and 2-12 in the Horizon League) trailed by just one point following Vance Cooksey's 3-pointer with 10:55 remaining. Butler (22-4 and 15-0) went ahead 52-45 at the 7:51 mark, but YSU hung tough and trailed just 53-49 on a Vytas Sulskis basket with 5:55 left. From that point, Butler scored the next 10 points holding the Guins scoreless for 2:30 to seize control of the game. Butler's Gordon Hayward scored a game-high 22 points while DeAndre Mays finished with a team-high 18 for the Guins. Sulskis added 14 for YSU and Cooksey finished with 11. For the game, Butler shot 56.1 percent (23-of-41) and 50 percent (8-of-16) from behind the 3-point line. YSU made 19-of-47 field-goal attempts (40.4 percent). The Penguins led by seven late in the first half only to allow Butler to come back and take a 31-30 lead at the break. In the opening half, both teams made 10 field goals and combined to make 10 3-pointers (six by YSU and four by the Bulldogs). The Bulldogs dominated the glass grabbing 16 boards compared to YSU's seven. Butler threatened to run away with the contest early scoring 16 of the games first 21 points. But the Penguins settled down using a 15-2 spurt to get back in the ball game and take their first lead of the night at 20-18 on a 3-pointer by Mays. YSU kept the pressure on and scored seven of the next nine points to lead 28-20 following a Kelvin Bright free throw at the 2:50 mark. The Guins outscored Butler 23-4 from the 13:26 mark to the 2:50 mark of the first half. The Bulldogs connected on just one field goal during that stretch, a layup by Shawn Vanzant with 9:52 left in the half. Butler ended the half strong outscoring the Guins 11-2 in the final two-and-a-half minutes. The Bulldogs had the final six points of the stanza after falling behind 30-25 to grab the slim lead. Willie Veasley drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key and Gordon Hayward's three-point play with 3.6 seconds left gave Butler its first lead since 8:39. Youngstown State returns to action on Saturday when they play host to Valparaiso. Tipoff for the contest against the Crusaders is set for 7:05 p.m. |
| Penguins Host No. 18/15 Butler on Dollar Night Tonight at Beeghly |
| Thursday, February 11 2010 |
| Courtesy of: YSU |
| The Youngstown State men’s basketball team (8-15, 2-11 Horizon League) returns home to face nationally-ranked Butler (21-4, 14-0 Horizon League) on Thursday, Feb. 11, at the Beeghly Center. Tipoff is set for 7:05 p.m. The game will also be broadcast live on 570 WKBN AM and the Horizon League Network. Opening Notes • This is the 20th meeting between Youngstown State and Butler in a series that dates back to the 1982-83 season. Butler owns a 17-2 edge in the all-time series and has won the last eight contests, including a 91-61 victory earlier this season. • This is the 24th time Youngstown State has faced a nationally-ranked opponent and the Guins own a 1-22 record in those games. This is also the seventh time the Penguins have faced Butler when the Bulldogs have been ranked in the top 25. YSU is 0-6 in those games. • Youngstown State Head Coach Jerry Slocum is one of 18 active coaches with more than 600 career victories. He currently ranks seventh among active Division I coaches with 629 career wins. • The Penguins are coming off a disappointing 74-68 loss to UIC on Feb. 6. Senior DeAndre Mays and junior Vytas Sulskis scored 22 and 21 points. The duo became the first pair to scored at least 20 points in the same game since Vance Cooksey (24) and Kelvin Bright (21) accomplished the feat in 2008 against Kent State. • Junior Vytas Sulskis continues to move up the Youngstown State all-time 3-point chart. With 30 3-pointers made this season, Sulskis now ranks eighth all-time with 115 career 3-pointers. He needs two more to move into seventh place surpassing Anthony Hunt who made 116 from 1995-98. • In less than two full seasons, seniors Kelvin Bright, Sirlester Martin and DeAndre Mays have eclipsed the 500 career point total at YSU. Mays has scored 645 points, Bright has scored 572 career points and Martin has totaled 550. • Junior Vytas Sulskis has scored 817 career points and needs 183 more to become the 32nd player in school history to score 1,000 career points. A Win Will • Improve YSU to 9-15 overall and 3-11 in the Horizon League. • Mark the program’s third win over Butler and the first since 2006. • Mark YSU’s second win over a nationally-ranked opponent and the first since 1952 • Snap an eight-game losing streak to Butler. • Mark YSU’s seventh home of the season. • Mark Head Coach Jerry Slocum’s 630th career victory and his 50th at Youngstown State. • YSU’s 984th victory in the program’s history. The Butler Series This is the 20th meeting between Youngstown State and Butler in a series that dates back to the 1982-83 season. Butler owns a 17-2 lead in the all-time series and has won the last eight contests, including a 91-61 victory earlier this season. Scouting Butler Butler, which has won 13 straight games, enters tonight’s game with a 21-4 overall record and a 14-0 mark in the Horizon League. Sophomore Gordon Hayward leads the Bulldogs with 15.7 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Sophomore Shelvin Mack is scoring 14.1 points per game while junior Matt Howard and senior Willie Veasley are in double figures with 11.5 and 10.1 points per contest, respectively. Versus Nationally-Ranked Foes This is the 24th time Youngstown State has faced a nationally-ranked opponent and the Guins own a 1-22 record in those games. This is also the seventh time the Penguins have faced Butler when the Bulldogs have been ranked in the top 25. YSU is 0-6 in those games. Last Time Against Butler In the first meeting this season, Butler waltzed to a 91-61 victory over the Penguins on Jan. 16 at Hinkle Field House. Senior Sirlester Martin led the Penguins with a career-high 23 points. Senior Kelvin Bright added 10 points. 20-20 Vision Against UIC on Feb. 6, DeAndre Mays and Vytas Sulskis each eclipsed te 20-point plateau with 22 and 21 points. The duo is the first pair of Penguins to score at least 20 points in a game since Vance Cooksey (24) and Kelvin Bright did it against Kent State in 2008. Six Reach Doubles Against Loyola on Feb. 4, six Penguins scored in double figures. It marked the first time that many YSU players reached double digits since a 96-59 win over Allegheny on Nov. 22, 2008. Sulskis Now Eighth Junior Vytas Sulskis continues to move up the Youngstown State all-time 3-point chart. With 30 3-pointers made this season, Sulskis now ranks ninth all-time with 115 career 3-pointers. He needs two more to move into seventh place surpassing Anthony Hunt who made 116 from 1995-98. Bright, Martin, Mays in 500-Point Club In less than two full seasons, seniors Kelvin Bright, Sirlester Martin and DeAndre Mays have eclipsed the 500 career point total at YSU. Mays has scored 645 points, Bright has scored 572 career points and Martin has totaled 550. First-Half Highs Against Loyola on Feb. 4, the Penguins set several first-half season highs. The Guins’ new first-half bests include points (53), field-goals made (19), 3-point field-goals made (9), field-goal percentage (.633) and assists (12). Up Next The Penguins host Valparaiso, Saturday, Feb. 13, at 7:05 p.m. at the Beeghly Center. |
| Former Penguin Rafael Cruz has Capitanes Undefeated |
| Tuesday, February 9 2010 |
| Courtesy of: Vince Pellegrini |
| Former Youngstown State Penguin Rafael Cruz has his Puerto Rico Capitanes in first place in the Premier Basketball League. The PBL is in its' third year of existence. The first commissioner of the league was TNT NBA analyst Kenny Smith. Premier Basketball League has picked up teams over the years that left the American Basketball Association (ABA) or other semi-pro leagues. Puerto Rico is undefeated with an 8-0 record. Cruz has played in all eight games and is averaging 6 points per ball game. Rafael also is shooting a high percentage from the charity strip (90.9%) and has dished out 2.2 assists per contest. The Capitanes have the next week off before returning to the states to play the Maryland GreenHawks on Saturday, February 13. Former George Jr. Republic standout, Benson Callier, may be best known by the local public as the guy who blocked LeBron James' driving shot at the Beeghly Center when George Junior defeated Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in front of a capacity crowd. Callier is now playing for the Vermont Frost Heaves (1-4) and has appeared in 3 games while averaging 4 points and 2 rebounds per outing. The Frost Heaves taken on the two-time defending PBL champion, Rochester RazorSharks, this evening at 7:35 PM. |
| Second-Half Comeback Falls Short in 74-68 Loss at UIC |
| Saturday, February 6 2010 |
| Courtesy of: |
| Chicago, Ill. -- Senior DeAndre Mays and junior Vytas Sulskis scored 16 and 14 points, respectively, in the second half and the Penguins cut a 17-point deficit down to three but the Youngstown State men's basketball team dropped a 74-68 decision to UIC on Saturday afternoon at the UIC Pavilion. The Penguins fall to 8-15 overall and 2-11 in the Horizon League while the Flames improve to 6-17 overall and 2-11 in the league. Mays led the Penguins with 22 points and Sulskis posted 21 and grabbed six rebounds. The duo became the first pair of players to score at least 20 points in a contest since Vance Cooksey (24) and Kelvin Bright (21) accomplished the feat against Kent State in 2008. Trailing 48-31 with 15:41 left in the game, the Penguins whittled away at the Flames advantage over the next 10 minutes with a 23-9 run to get with three points, 57-54, at the 5:13 mark. After not making a 3-point field goal and shooting just 30.4 percent in the first half, the Penguins connected on four from behind the arc to spark the rally. Back-to-back 3-points from sophomore Ashen Ward and Sulskis brought the Penguins within 10, 48-38, with 13:35 remaining. Mays drilled a trey at the 5:32 mark to bring the Guins within six, 57-51, and Sulskis' second triple cut the deficit to three points, 57-54. The Penguins defense, which allowed just two Flames field goal over the last six minutes of the game, stepped up with two straight stops but two consecutive turnovers were costly. The Penguins missed two free throws and two layups and the Flames capitalized with four made free throws to extend their lead back to seven points, 61-54, with 3:04 to go. A layup by Sulskis and two free throws by Mays sliced the Flames' lead down to four, 62-58, at the 2:27 mark but the Penguins would not get any closer. Mays' 3-point play with 31 seconds to go brought the Penguins back within five, 66-61, but the Flames made two layups and four more free throws to seal the game. The Penguins return home to host No. 15 Butler, Thursday, Feb. 11, at 7:05 p.m. at the Beeghly Center. |
| Penguins Visit UIC Seeking Second Straight Win Over Flames |
| Saturday, February 6 2010 |
| Courtesy of: |
| The Youngstown State men’s basketball team (8-14, 2-10 Horizon League) goes for a season-series sweep of UIC (5-17, 1-11 Horizon League) when it visits the Flames, Saturday, Feb. 6, at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Ill. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m. EDT. The game will also be broadcast live on 570 WKBN AM and the Horizon League Network. Opening Notes • This is the 25th meeting between Youngstown State and UIC in series that dates back to 1993. The Flames own a 19-5 advantage in the all-time series, but the Penguins have won the three of the last four and five of the last eight contests, including a 76-67 win at the Beeghly Center earlier this season. In the last meeting at the UIC Pavilion, Youngstown State came away with a 68-60 victory, marking YSU’s first-ever win at the Pavilion. • Youngstown State Head Coach Jerry Slocum is one of 18 active coaches with more than 600 career victories. He currently ranks seventh among active Division I coaches with 629 career wins. • The Penguins are coming off a disappointing 92-95 overtime loss at Loyola on Feb. 4. Six Penguins scored in double figures led by Kelvin Bright’s 22 points. Senior Sirlester Martin and junior Vytas Sulskis each poured in 12 points, senior DeAndre Mays scored 11 points and junior Vance Cooksey and sophomore Ashen Ward each added 10 points. • Junior Vytas Sulskis continues to move up the Youngstown State all-time 3-point chart. With 28 3-pointers made this season, Sulskis now ranks tied for eighth all-time with 113 career 3-pointers. He needs one more to move into eighth place surpassing Dave Henderson who made 113 from 1994-97. He also needs four more to move into seventh place on the all-time list passing Anthony Hunt, who made 116 from 1995-98. • In less than two full seasons, seniors Kelvin Bright, Sirlester Martin and DeAndre Mays have eclipsed the 500 career point total at YSU. Mays has scored 623 points, Martin has totaled 546 and Bright has scored 566 career points. • Junior Vytas Sulskis has scored 796 career points and needs 204 more to become the 32nd player in school history to score 1,000 career points. A Win Will • Improve YSU to 9-14 overall and 3-10 in the Horizon League. • Mark the program’s sixth win over UIC. • Mark YSU’s second straight win over UIC at the UIC Pavilion and the fourth win in the last five games against the Flames. • Mark just the second win at the UIC Pavilion. • Mark YSU’s third road victory of the season. • Mark Head Coach Jerry Slocum’s 630th career victory and his 50th at Youngstown State. • YSU’s 984th victory in the program’s history. Scouting UIC UIC enters the game with a 5-17 overall record and a 1-11 mark in the Horizon League. The Flames have lost nine straight contests and 11 of the last 13 games. Robo Kreps leads the Flames with 14 points per game while Zavion Neely and Jeremy Buttell are averaging double figures with 11.8 and 11.7 points per game, respectively. Buttell also leads the team with seven rebounds per contests. Last Time Against UIC In the last meeting against UIC, the Penguins shot 46 percent from the field and 90 percent from the free-throw line in a 76-67 victory at the Beeghly Center. Vytas Sulskis scored a team-high 17 points while senior DeAndre Mays posted 15 points and senior Sirlester Martin added 12 points. Sulskis connected on 5-of-9 shooting from the floor, including 3-of-3 from 3-point range. Last Time Out The Penguins are coming off a disappointing 92-95 overtime loss at Loyola on Feb. 4. Six Penguins scored in double figures led by Kelvin Bright’s 22 points. Senior Sirlester Martin and junior Vytas Sulskis each poured in 12 points, senior DeAndre Mays scored 11 points and junior Vance Cooksey and sophomore Ashen Ward each added 10 points. Six Reach Doubles Against Loyola on Feb. 4, six Penguins scored in double figures. It marked the first time that many YSU players reached double digits since a 96-59 win over Allegheny on Nov. 22, 2008. Sulskis Burns Flames Vytas Sulskis enjoyed playing against UIC during his career. In six games against the Flames, the 6-foot-7 guard is averaging 15.5 points per game, including a 20-point effort in the 73-68 loss last season. Sulskis is shooting 47 percent (33-of-70) from the floor and is averaging 5.3 rebounds per game. He also had a career-high 26 points against UIC as a freshman (1/3/08). Sulskis Now Tied For Eighth Junior Vytas Sulskis continues to move up the Youngstown State all-time 3-point chart. With 25 3-pointers made this season, Sulskis now ranks ninth all-time with 110 career 3-pointers. He needs four more to move into eighth place surpassing Dave Henderson who made 113 from 1994-97. Bright, Martin, Mays in 500-Point Club In less than two full seasons, seniors Kelvin Bright, Sirlester Martin and DeAndre Mays have eclipsed the 500 career point total at YSU. Mays has scored 623 points, Martin has totaled 546 and Bright has scored 566 career points. First-Half Highs Against Loyola on Feb. 4, the Penguins set several first-half season highs. The Guins’ new first-half bests include points (53), field-goals made (19), 3-point field-goals made (9), field-goal percentage (.633) and assists (12). Up Next The Penguins return home to host nationally-ranked Butler, Thursday, Feb. 11, at 7:05 p.m. at the Beeghly Center. |
| Six Score in Double Figures in 92-85 Overtime Loss at Loyola |
| Friday, February 5 2010 |
| Courtesy of: YSU |
| Chicago, Ill. -- Six players scored in double figures and the Penguins shot a blistering 63.3 percent from the field in the first half, but the Youngstown State men's basketball team dropped a 92-85 overtime decision to Loyola on Thursday evening at the Gentile Center. The Penguins fall to 8-14 overall and 2-10 in the Horizon League while the Ramblers improve to 13-9 overall and 4-8 in the league. Senior Kelvin Bright led the Penguins with a season-high 22 points, while senior Sirlester Martin and junior Vytas Sulskis scored 12 points apiece, senior DeAndre Mays posted 11 points and junior Vance Cooksey and sophomore Ashen Ward scored 10 points each. In the first half, Youngstown State set season highs in points (53), field-goal percentage (63.3), field-goals made (19) and 3-point field-goals made (9), but after halftime, the Penguins connected on just 11-of-41 from the floor, including overtime. The Penguins led by eight points at the intermission, 53-45, but the Ramblers, who shot 73.9 percent from the floor in the first half, quickly cut the deficit to two points, 53-51, after back-to-back 3-pointers by Geoff McCammon and Marcus Thomas to open the second stanza. After the Penguins rebuilt a seven-point advantage, 58-51, after layups by Mays and Martin and a free throw by Bright, Loyola scored eight straight points to regain the lead, 59-58, with 15:21 to go. The Guins and Ramblers battled through five lead changes over the next 13 minutes before the Ramblers extended their lead to four points with 2:34 to go. Two free throws by both Bright and Mays knotted the game at 76-76 with 1:13 to go but Walt Gibler's layup with 40 seconds left but Martin's layup with 20 seconds remaining forced the extra period. In the overtime, McCammon canned his fifth 3-pointer of the game to put the Ramblers up for good, 83-80, with 3:39 to go. Bright's layup with 3:17 left brought the Penguins within one, 83-82, but Loyola's Andy Polka answered with two layups and Ben Averkamp knocked down two charity tosses to push the Ramblers' edge to seven points, 89-82, with 1:32 to go. Martin connected on 3 pointer with 32 second remaining to get back within four, 89-85, but would not get any closer. The Penguins continue their road swing through Chicago when they visit UIC, Saturday, Feb. 6. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. EDT. |
| Penguins Seek Season-Series Sweep of Loyola Tonight in Chicago |
| Thursday, February 4 2010 |
| Courtesy of: YSU |
| The Youngstown State men’s basketball team (8-13, 2-9 Horizon League) goes for a season-series sweep of Loyola (12-9, 3-8 Horizon League) when it visits the Ramblers, Thursday, Feb. 4, at the Joseph J. Gentile Center in Chicago, Ill. Tipoff is slated for 8 p.m. EDT. The game will also be broadcast live on 570 WKBN AM and the Horizon League Network. Opening Notes • This is the 23rd meeting between Youngstown State and Loyola dating back to the 1955-56 season. The all-time series is tied at 11-11 but the Penguins have won the last two contests, including a 71-67 victory on Jan. 9 at the Beeghly Center. The last time these two schools met at the Gentile Center, Youngstown State escaped with a 60-49 win. It marked the first win in Chicago since 2006 and just the third time the Guins won at the Gentile Center. • Youngstown State Head Coach Jerry Slocum is one of 18 active coaches with more than 600 career victories. He currently ranks seventh among active Division I coaches with 629 career wins. • The Penguins are coming off a difficult 77-69 loss at Cleveland State on Jan. 30. Senior DeAndre Mays scored 18 of his game-high 27 points in the second half but the Penguins comeback fell short. Senior Kelvin Bright scored 12 points and junior Vance Cooksey added 10. • The CSU game marked the third time this season Mays scored 27-or-more points in a game. He scored 27 against Saint Francis (Pa.) on Dec. 16 and a career-high 30 against Loyola on Jan. 9 • Junior Vytas Sulskis continues to move up the Youngstown State all-time 3-point chart. With 25 3-pointers made this season, Sulskis now ranks ninth all-time with 110 career 3-pointers. He needs four more to move into eighth place surpassing Dave Henderson who made 113 from 1994-97. • In less than two full seasons, seniors Kelvin Bright, Sirlester Martin and DeAndre Mays have eclipsed the 500 career point total at YSU. Mays has scored 612 points, Martin has totaled 534 and Bright has scored 544 career points. • Junior Vytas Sulskis has scored 784 career points and needs 216 more to become the 32nd player in school history to score 1,000 career points. A Win Will • Improve YSU to 9-13 overall and 3-9 in the Horizon League. • Mark the program’s 12th win over Loyola. • Mark YSU’s second straight win over Loyola at the Gentile Center and the third consecutive win in the all-time series. • Mark just the fourth win against the Ramblers at the Gentile Center. • Mark YSU’s third road victory of the season. • Mark Head Coach Jerry Slocum’s 630th career victory and his 50th at Youngstown State. • YSU’s 984th victory in the program’s history. Scouting Loyola Loyola enters the game with an overall mark of 12-9 and a 3-8 record in the Horizon League. The Ramblers have lost their last four contests and seven of the last eight games. Terrance Hill leads Loyola in scoring with 12 points per game while Walt Gibler is second on the squad with 11.2 points per contest. The Ramblers also own a 1-3 home record against Horizon League opponents. Last Time Against Loyola In the last meeting against Loyola at the Beeghly Center, senior DeAndre Mays scored a career-high 30 points and led the Guins to a 71-67 victory. Mays connected on 11-of-21 shooting from the floor, including 4-of-6 from the 3-point arc. Senior Kelvin Bright added 16 points and Sirlester Martin posted 14 points and seven rebounds. Senior Dallas Blocker sealed the game with a three-point play with 10 seconds remaining. Last Time Out The Penguins dropped a 77-69 decision to Cleveland State on Jan. 30 at the Wolstein Center. Senior DeAndre Mays scored a game-high 27 points while classmate Kelvin Bright scored 12 points and junior Vance Cooksey added 10. Sulskis Now Ninth Junior Vytas Sulskis continues to move up the Youngstown State all-time 3-point chart. With 25 3-pointers made this season, Sulskis now ranks ninth all-time with 110 career 3-pointers. He needs four more to move into eighth place surpassing Dave Henderson who made 113 from 1994-97. Bright, Martin, Mays in 500-Point Club In less than two full seasons, seniors Kelvin Bright, Sirlester Martin and DeAndre Mays have eclipsed the 500 career point total at YSU. Mays has scored 612 points, Martin has totaled 534 and Bright has scored 544 career points. Up Next The Penguins continue their trek through the "Windy City" with a match up against UIC, Saturday, Feb. 6. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. EST. |
| Youngstown State to Face UC-Riverside in BracketBusters |
| Tuesday, February 2 2010 |
| Courtesy of: YSU |
| Indianapolis, Ind. – The Youngstown State men’s basketball team will take on UC-Riverside in the 2010 BracketBusters on Feb. 20 in Riverside, Calif., the Horizon League announced on Monday. Youngstown State (8-13, 2-9 Horizon League) is one of 10 Horizon League teams playing in this year’s event and one of five to be playing games on the road. The Penguins own a record of 3-3 in BracketBuster games since its inception during the 2003-04 season. “Being a part of the BracketBusters is a chance to showcase our program and the Horizon League on a national stage,” YSU Head Coach Jerry Slocum said. “We look forward to the opportunity to play UC-Riverside.” UC-Riverside is currently 8-13 overall and 2-7 in the Big West Conference, but has dropped 11 of its last 13 games, including its last four home contests. This year’s BracketBusters contest will mark the first-ever meeting between Youngstown State and UC-Riverside. It also marks the Guins’ first trip to Southern California since playing UCLA and Weber State to start the 2007-08 campaign. The Penguins visit Loyola, Feb. 4, at 8 p.m. in Chicago, Ill. |