YSU basketball doubleheader tonight

The men play Kent State while the women host Central Michigan.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown State men’s and women’s basketball teams will play their first of eight doubleheaders tonight at Beeghly Center.

The women (3-3) will open the session with a 5:15 tip off against Central Michigan (3-4), while the men (3-3) will take on Kent State (6-2) in a scheduled 7:35 tip off.

Both teams have played five of their first six games on the road and both are 1-0 at Beeghly Center.

“It seems like it’s been forever since we’ve been home,” YSU Jerry Slocum said. “And to be playing Kent State, who I feel is the best team in the Mid-American Conference and the second best team we’ve played this year, is very exciting.”

The Penguins are coming off a disappointing 61-50 loss at Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, but Slocum said that his team was really tired.

“We came off a big win at St. Francis and then had a long seven-hour bus ride to Kentucky,” he said. “Still after playing 31 poor minutes we took time out with nine minutes left and were only six points behind. I told our kids that if we just play nine good minutes we can win, but we went out and missed three wide-open 3s and a baseline layup and never threatened again.”

Slocum said that Kent State, which has won three straight including a 71-64 win at UNC Greensboro on Saturday, is a good team.

“Kent is a very athletic team on offense and defense, they really guard well and on offense if you can’t guard the ball against them you are in real trouble,” he added.

“We’re still growing and some of the factors in growth is winning some games on the road and taking care of your home court,” Slocum added.

“We have to have better energy against Kent.” he said. “Last Saturday was really our poorest offensive effort this year.”

Women’s head coach Tisha Hill is also happy to be back home.

The Penguins have won three straight, including a 58-57 win at St. Francis, Pa., on Saturday.

“Out defense has been improving daily and on offense we take what the opposition gives us,” Hill said. “One thing about this team that if someone is having a bad night somebody else will step up and it makes it a lot tougher to defend against us.”

About the three game winning streak, Hill added, “We’re making things happen and we’re making our own opportunities.”

“Central Michigan is a very quick team that uses a four guard offense,” she added. “We have to contain their penetration and we’ve got to play our game defensively.”

Both teams will be in action again on Saturday when the women play host to Miami (Ohio) in a 2:05 p.m. tip-off at Beeghly Center and the men will be back on the road to open Horizon League play at Cleveland State in a 5 p.m. tip-off game that will be aired live by Sports Time Ohio.