YSU seeks to end six-game losing streak

The Penguins play host to Loyola (Chicago) tonight.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown State's men's basketball team will try to snap a six-game losing streak tonight when the Penguins play host to Loyola. Tipoff at Beeghly Center is 7 p.m.
The game will be broadcast on WNIO-AM (1390).
The Penguins (2-6, 0-1 Horizon League) are coming off a 72-51 setback at Wright State on Saturday. Quin Humphrey scored a team-high 14 points, while Zach Silverman added 12.
Humphrey has scored in double figures in all eight YSU games this season.
Loyola (2-7, 0-0) last played Saturday, a 73-67 loss to Illinois State. The Ramblers held an early 11-point lead before ISU rallied.
Dave Telander scored 19 points to lead Loyola, which played without leading scorer DaJuan Gouard 12.9 ppg). Gouard sprained his knee at North Carolina. Gouard will also miss tonight's game.
Similar statistics
"If you look at the stats, you have two teams that are the spitting image of one another," said YSU coach John Robic. "Shooting percentage, 3-point field goal percentage, free throw percentage, rebounding, points per game, it's identical across the board.
"They are a very, very young team. Again another thing, they have eight new faces just like we do. They are very big. They are going to go 6-11, 6-9, 6-7 and then their two guards.
"It's going to come down to rebounding, it's going to come down to transition defense and it's going to come down to willing to want to win."
Youngstown State has had success at home against Loyola winning four of the five meetings, including two straight. YSU won 76-75 at Beeghly Center last year.
Loyola is winless on the road this season and has dropped 15 straight contests dating back to last season.
"Our big thing right now is when we don't win, we've always fallen behind early," said Robic.
"I think it's important for their mental framework to be in games early. So whether we are up or not up, we have got to finish out the game."
Better shooting needed
Robic said the Penguins must shoot the ball better.
"It was a question of mine coming into the year and that is not a good question to have," he said. "We are working harder at it. A tough thing to stimulate is game speed and practice speed. We harp on it and hopefully it is something that will come.
"Another thing that helps your shooting percentage is shot selection. I think we are starting to understand that a little bit as well. The disappointing thing [at Wright State] was just the effort. I told these guys as many years as I have been in coaching and especially as a head coach, I don't want our team to get outworked. And we got outworked on Saturday night."