YSU MEN'S BASKETBALL Kent and Akron on schedule

Non-conference opponents include Marshall, Duquesne and Saint Bonaventure.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Jerry Slocum's first game as Youngstown State men's basketball coach will be Nov. 19, when the Penguins begin the 2005-06 season at Saint Francis (Pa.)
The schedule was announced by the athletic department Friday.
Youngstown State will play five of its first seven games away from Beeghly Center and overall have four non-conference home games and seven on the road, including an ESPN Bracket Buster game in February.
The Penguins' home opener is Nov. 23 against Slippery Rock before renewing rivalries with Akron (Nov. 26) and Kent State (Nov. 30).
YSU and Akron have played 73 times but not since 1994. The Penguins and Kent State will meet for the 39th time and this marks the first season that YSU will play both Akron and Kent State in the same campaign since 1959-60.
Youngstown State continues its non-league schedule at Marshall Dec. 4 and at Eastern Michigan Dec. 7. The latter game is the return contest as part of last season's ESPN Bracket Buster format. The Penguins then play at St. Bonaventure for the first meeting between those programs since 1952.
Horizon season starts in Chicago
YSU's last two home games in December take place Dec. 17 against Duquesne (the Dukes' first visit to Youngstown since 1951) and Dec. 21 against James Madison. The Penguins' final non-conference game (other than the Bracket Buster) is Dec. 28 at Siena.
Slocum's first Horizon League season begins with a New Year's weekend in Chicago. The Penguins play Illinois-Chicago on New Year's Eve, then visits Loyola of Chicago on Jan. 2.
Their league home opener is Jan. 5 against Wisconsin-Green Bay. A busy opening week concludes in Detroit Jan. 7.
YSU's longest homestand of the season commences Jan. 12 against Wright State. That will be followed by games against Cleveland State Jan. 14, Butler on Jan. 21 and defending league champion Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Jan. 26.
That stretch will be followed by the final nine games of the regular season, of which six will be on the road.