YSU BASKETBALL Penguins set for SW Missouri State

The men's team hopes to rebound from last week's loss to Boston University.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown State men's basketball team plays in their first in-season tournament since December 2000 when the Penguins play at the SMS Price Cutter Classic tonight and Saturday in Springfield, Mo. YSU begins against the host, Southwest Missouri State, at 9:05 p.m.
The Penguins (2-1) will face either Southeastern Louisiana or UA-Little Rock in the second game on Saturday.
YSU is coming off a 71-55 loss last Saturday to Boston University. Derrick Harris led the Penguins with 14 points while Quin Humphrey had 12 points and eight rebounds.
Southwest Missouri State (2-1) has won two straight after opening the year with a loss at Detroit. SMS beat Texas-Pan American in its home opener on Saturday after winning by two points at Northern Illinois in its previous game.
SMS leaders
The Bears are led by Tamarr Maclin, who is averaging a team-high 10 points per game. SMS is a very balanced team with eight players averaging at least seven points a game. Kellen Easley is the top rebounder (6.0 rpg).
The other first-night matchup features Akansas-Little Rock and Southeastern Louisiana at 6:35 p.m. Both teams won on Tuesday. The Trojans (2-2) defeated Southern 75-60 and SE Louisiana (4-1) beat LSU-Shreveport 80-53.
SE Louisiana already won the Boise State Invitational; its lone loss was at Southern Miss. UALR has lost at Oklahoma State and Georgia Tech while beating Southern Arkansas.
This is the first regular season tournament the Penguins have participated in since playing at the Onieda Bingo & amp; Casino Classic in Green Bay, Wis., in December 2000. At tournaments outside of Youngstown, YSU has won five regular season events since moving to the Division I level in 1981-82.
Veteran athletic trainer John Doneyko will work his 500th game for the Penguins men's basketball program tonight. Doneyko, who is an associate athletic trainer for the Penguins, began his YSU career in 1986-87 under then coach Mike Rice. During his tenure, he has worked with five different head coaches.