COLLEGE BASKETBALL Penguins to host Kent Saturday

Youngstown has lost four straight on the road and is 1-5 overall.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team hopes to see a lot of friendly faces in the stands Saturday night.
The Penguins, who are 1-5 overall and coming off an 0-4 road trip, are going to need all the help they can get Saturday when Mid-American Conference power Kent State (4-2) invades Beeghly Center for a 7 p.m. tipoff.
Penguins coach John Robic, has found it hard to explain his team's problems this year.
Robic called this the toughest schedule in YSU history and this week said it may be too tough.
Over-scheduled: "There is not much we can do about that now," he said. "This is the schedule everybody wanted, this is the schedule our players wanted, but I probably over-scheduled for this team, based on the people that we have in the program right now.
"Still this is the level that we want to be at," he added. "Can we do it? I don't know. In six games, no. Will it take a year or two, I don't know."
YSU's road losses came at DePaul, Valparaiso, Chicago State and last Saturday at Toledo.
"We are a struggling team right now," Robic said. "But I ask the fans not to give up on these players. They are working as hard as they can possibly work. We're getting better, but we've still got a way to go."
The Penguins have only nine players available to play. Sophomores TeJay Anderson and Khari McQueen have been academically ineligible.
"The quarter officially ends Sunday night and we'll know Monday if they are back with us," Robic said. "They definitely will not be available for Saturday's game."
Does Robic feel that they can help the team?
"Definitely," he said. "Would we be better than 1-5 at this point I don't know, but they will definitely make us a better team.
"TeJay, based on talent and ability, is the best we have on this team," Robic said. "Khari gives us much needed strength inside. The good thing is that they've been practicing every day."
Flashes tough: Robic called Kent "probably one of the three toughest opponents we will play this season. They are right in the same category with Butler and Detroit of the Horizon League.
One of Kent's two losses was to nationally-ranked Kentucky 82-68. The Golden Flashes have been idle since Dec. 1 when they defeated Chattanooga 75-56.
"They have two outstanding guards, while Antonio Gates is a force on the inside," Robic said.
Kent's backcourt consists of 6-foot-1 junior guard Trevor Huffman (17.7 points per game) and Andrew Mitchell, a 5-11 senior who is averaging 13.3 points. Gates, a 6-5, 240-pound forward, averages 15.8 points and nine rebounds. Seven-foot center John Edwards and 6-3 senior Demetric Shaw round out the lineup.
The Penguins' starters will be 5-11 senior guard Ryan Patton (15.3 points, 6.2 assists), 6-3 freshman guard Doug Underwood (13.7 ppg), 6-2 senior guard Rafael Cruz (9.8 ppg), 6-7 senior forward Steve Flores (8.7 ppg) and 6-6 sophomore forward Bill Mallernee (8.5 ppg, 6.2 rebounds).