PREVIEW \ YSU men

YSU (5-7) at KENT STATE (5-4)
When: 7 p.m. todayWhere: M.A.C. Center, KentRadio: WNIO-AM (1390)YSU projected starters: Forwards Jack Liles (6-8 sophomore, 5.5 points per game) and Dwight Holmes (6-6 senior, 4.1 ppg); guards Quin Humphrey (6-4 senior, 18.3 ppg), Byron Davis (6-2 junior, 8.3 ppg) and Keston Roberts (6-4 senior, 16.8 ppg)Kent State projected starters: Armon Gates (6-1 senior, 15.5 points per game); Mike Scott (6-7 junior, 10.8 ppg); Haminn Quaintance (6-7 junior, 10.6 ppg); Omni Smith (6-3 senior, 11.3 ppg); Mike McKee (6-4, redshirt freshman, 4.6 ppg)Coaches: Jerry Slocum (The King's, N.Y. '75) is 12-28 in his second year at YSU and 592-352 in 32 seasons overall. Jim Christian (Rhode Island '88) is 94-44 in his fifth season with the Golden Flashes.Notes: The Penguins bounced back from last week's loss at Robert Morris to defeat James Madison 78-58 and improve to 2-6 on the road this year. Keston Roberts led the way with 28 points and is shooting 47.6 percent from the field this year and is 22-of-24 at the foul line. The Penguins are expected to have their hands full with the Flashes, who took No. 6 ranked Duke right to the wire before bowing 79-72 on Tuesday night. Senior Omni Smith had a career-high 33 points against the Blue Devils. Kent State holds a big lead in the overall series with the Penguins 23-16, including a 77-69 victory at YSU a year ago. YSU's last win in the series came in the 2001-02 season when the Penguins upset the Flashes 75-70 at Beeghly.Next: YSU will return home Dec. 30 to play Loyola in a Horizon League contest at Beeghly Center in a 4:05 p.m. tipoff. The game will follow the YSU women vs. Butler game which will begin at 2:05 p.m.
Vindicator staff report