COLLEGE BASKETBALL YSU is third seed in opening round of MCC tourney

The Penguins must defeat Oral Roberts a third time this season.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State men's basketball coach John Robic must figure out a way to beat Oral Roberts for a third time this season, when the Penguins face the Golden Eagles Sunday in the opening round of the Mid-Continent Conference tournament in Fort Wayne, Ind.
How hard is it to beat a team three times in the same season?
"Ask Oral Roberts," said Robic. "They beat us three times last year."
The Penguins (19-10, 11-5) beat Oral Roberts 63-62 in Tulsa, Okla., on Dec. 2, and 82-70 at Beeghly Center early last month.
Third seed: YSU is the third seed in the tournament; the Eagles (8-18, 5-11) are No. 6.
The Penguins haven't played since beating Oakland (Mich.) in the regular season finale 88-84 on Feb. 22.
"This is the first time that I've ever had a layoff like this at this point in the season since I've been in coaching," Robic said. "We really won't know the effect of the layoff until Sunday night.
"It was a great way to end the home season and I'm so happy for our five seniors. It's a game that they'll remember for a long time," he added. "Our 10-2 record at home this year is very impressive and was a tribute to the fine crowds that we had this year."
Robic likes the fact that the opening game is in the evening.
"It's much more like our regular season game times," he explained. "Nothing is worse than having to come out and play a game at noon in the first round."
Robic believes the Penguins' experience will be a factor.
"We're a better team this year than last year," he said. "We're a year older and we're healthy."
Well, almost healthy.
Injury: Junior forward Steve Flores twisted his knee in practice on Tuesday and was on crutches Wednesday.
"We really don't know how serious it is," Robic said. "It will be a day-to-day thing."
The 6-foot-7 Flores, a native of East Liverpool and a transfer from Pittsburgh, has been a starter most of the season. He averaged 8.1 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.
Offense: The bulk of the offense has come from three seniors -- Craig Haese, Desmond Harrison and Ryan Patton.
Haese, who holds all of the school's records for 3-point shooting, averaged 14.1 points per game, while Patton, who led the Mid-Con in assists (5.6), scored at a 10.6 clip. Harrison, the team's leading rebounder (6.8), averaged 10.2 points per game.
If Flores isn't able to play, senior Andrew Hannan will probably get the starting call. The other starter is 6-6 freshman TeJay Anderson, who averaged 6.9 points and 4.0 rebounds per game.
Robic said it doesn't matter who the opponent is because of the overall strength of the Mid-Con.
"Everybody knows all about everybody else in the league by this time and playing on a neutral site is the same as playing on the road," he said.
"We are now just three games away from what these kids have been working for all season long," added Robic, referring to the NCAA Tournament.