YOUNGSTOWN STATE UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL A preview

YSU MEN (13-15, 7-8)AT CLEVELAND STATE (9-20, 2-13)
When: Today, 5:30 p.m.Where: Wolstein Center, Cleveland.Radio: WNIO-AM (1390). YSU projected starters: Forwards Jack Liles (6-8 sophomore 7.1 points per game) and Dwight Holmes (6-6 senior, 2.8 ppg); guards Quin Humphrey (6-4 senior, 19.5 ppg), Byron Davis (6-2 junior, 8.4 ppg) and Keston Roberts (6-4 senior, 16.2 ppg).Cleveland State projected starters: Patrick Tatham (6-7 senior, 5.3 points per game); J'Nathan Bullock (6-5 sophomore, 13.7 ppg); Joe Davis (6-0 freshman, 9.4 ppg); Victor Morris (6-1 senior, 7.6 ppg); Raheem Moss (6-4 senior, 10.2 ppg).Coaches: Jerry Slocum (The King's, N.Y. '75) is 20-36 in his second year at YSU and 600-361 in 32 seasons overall. Gary Watters (Ferris State '75) is in his first season with the Vikings. His career coaching record stands at 173-155 in 12 seasons.Notes: The Penguins clinched a home postseason tournament game with Thursday's 72-57 win over league-leading Wright State at Beeghly Center. The Penguins are tied with UW-Green Bay for fourth place in the standings, but have lost twice to the Phoenix this year. Senior Quin Humphrey closed out his regular-season home play with a 35-point, 11-rebound effort against Wright State, while head coach Jerry Slocum, in his second season, picked up his 600th career victory. A win by the Penguins today would give them 14 wins, doubling last year's win total of seven. A victory also would double their best victory total in Horizon League play. The Penguins own a 68-63 victory over the Vikings at Beeghly Center on Jan. 20 and hold a slim lead in the overall series 35-31. YSU has won two straight in the series including a 68-63 victory at Cleveland a year ago. The Vikings are coming off a 60-48 loss at Detroit on Wednesday night and have lost six of their last seven games. The lone win was a 85-76 win over Cal State-Northridge in the Bracket Buster event.Next: YSU completed its regular season schedule against Cleveland State. The Penguins will find out Sunday who their first-round Horizon League postseason tournament opponent will be, but the contest will definitely be at Beeghly Center at 7:05 p.m. First-round action is scheduled for Tuesday at the sites of the league's No. 4, 5 and 6 seeds.
YSU WOMEN (7-17, 5-8)AT CLEVELAND STATE (4-9, 7-19)
Game time: 3 p.m.Where: Wolstein Center, ClevelandRadio: WNIO 1390-AM.YSU projected starters: Velissa Vaughn (5-8 sophomore, 8.0 points per game); Monique Godfrey (5-8 sophomore, 11.6 ppg); Ashley Pendleton (6-0 sophomore, 5.1 ppg); Lauren Branson (5-7 junior, 3.3 ppg); Jessica Schloemp (6-3 junior, 6.3 ppg).Cleveland State projected starters: Kailey Klein (5-11 freshman, 10.2 points per game); Angel Roque (5-5 freshman, 3.3 ppg); Jessica Rogue (5-7 freshman, 8.5 ppg); Nicole Thomas (6-2 senior, 7.7 ppg); Chenara Wilson (6-2 senior, 5.7 ppg).Coaches: Tisha Hill (Indiana '93) is 31-77 in her fourth season with the Penguins. Kate Peterson (UW-Stevens Point '91) is 27-84 in her fourth season with the Vikings.Notes: The Penguins finished up the home portion of their schedule dropping a pair of games to UW-Green Bay and UW-Milwaukee last week. The Penguins were beaten 74-62 by the Phoenix and lost a hard-fought battle to the Panthers 76-70. The Penguins are trying for their second straight sweep of the Vikings. They posted a 65-55 win over the Vikings on Jan. 27 at Beeghly Center. The Penguins lead the all-time series with Cleveland 30-15 and are 11-9 at Cleveland. The Vikings had a two-game winning streak snapped last Saturday at home against league-leading Green Bay, but not before the Vikings had the Phoenix on the ropes before falling 69-66. Prior to that game Cleveland had beaten UW-Milwaukee 57-54 and Detroit 77-74.Up next: The Penguins will finish the season on the road playing at Butler on Thursday at 7 p.m. and then conclude the year at Wright State on March 3 at 2 p.m.
Vindicator staff report