YSU BASKETBALL Today’s games

YSU (7-14, 3-8) vs.
ILLINOIS-CHICAGO (11-10, 5-5)

When: 8 p.m.

Where: UIC Pavilion, Chicago.

Radio: WKBN-AM (570).

Coaches: YSU’s Jerry Slocum (Kings College, N.Y.) is 28-52 in his third season with the Penguins; Jimmy Collins (New Mexico State) has a 187-166 record in 12 seasons with the Flames.

YSU starters: Byron Davis, 6-2 senior guard (15.1 points per game, 2.7 rebounds); John Barber, 6-7 senior forward (13.5 ppg., 7.0); Vance Cooksey, 6-0, redshirt freshman guard (6.0 ppg., 2.3); Jack Liles, 6-7, junior forward (10.8 ppg., 4.8); Vytas Sulskis, 6-7 freshman guard (9.0. ppg, 4.6).

Illinois-Chicago starters: Jermaine Dailey, 6-7 senior (4.6 ppg. 3.8); Scott Vandermeer, 7-0 junior (9.4 ppg. 7.5); Josh Mayo, 5-11 junior (17.8 ppg. 2.4); Karl White Jr., 6-2 senior (9.4 ppg. 2.2); Robert Bush, 6-4 senior (7.8 ppg. 2.9).

Game notes: The Penguins suffered a heartbreaking 69-68 last second loss to Loyola on Thursday night. The loss extended YSU’s current losing streak to five straight games. The Penguins are 2-8 on the road this season, 1-4 in the Horizon League. Senior John Barber had a double-double againsts the Ramblers with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while senior Dwight Holmes had a career night with 19 points. Illinois-Chicago is coming off a 74-68 win over Cleveland State at home. The Flames snapped a two game losing streak with the win. Last week they had lost back-to-back road games to Valparaiso and Butler, but the Flames are now 9-1 at home this season. Josh Mayo leads the Flames and is shooting 53.4 percent from the field which leads the nation in Division I basketball. Seven-foot center Scott Vandermeer leads the conference in blocked shots with 55.

Series: This will be the 19th meeting between the teams. YSU’s 80-68 victory on Jan. 3 was only the Penguins second win in the series. The Penguins also defeated the Flames at home last season, but had lost 14 straight prior to that win. Both YSU wins have come at Beeghly Center as the Penguins have never won at the UIC Pavilion in eight tries.

Next up: The Penguins ended their four game road trip and will return home on Feb. 7 to play Detroit in a 7:35 p.m. tip off at Beeghly. The game will be the second of a doubleheader with the YSU women meeting Green Bay in the opener at 5:15.

WOMEN

YSU (10-9, 5-3)

vs. BUTLER (13-6, 3-5)

When: 2 p.m.

Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis.

Radio: WKBN-AM (570).

Coaches: Tisha Hill (Indiana) is 41-90 in her fifth season with the Penguins. Beth Couture (Erskine) is in her sixth season with the Bulldogs with a 78-87 record. Overall she has a 336-204 mark in 19 seasons of coaching.

YSU starters: Jessica Schloemp, 6-3 senior (6.9 points per game, 7.3 rebounds); Tiara Scott, 6-0 junior (12.3 ppg, 6.6); Lauren Branson, 5-6 senior (5.3 ppg, 2.8); Velissa Vaughn, 5-9 junior (6.5 ppg, 1.1); Heather Karner, 5-10 senior (13.4 ppg, 4.2).

Butler starters: Azjah Bass, 5-7 sophomore (5.1 ppg. 1.4); Tara Miller, 5-10 junior (4.4 ppg. 2.1); Susan Lester, 6-2 sophomore (13.9 ppg. 7.3); Lade Akande, 6-1 junior (15.4 ppg. 6.0); Candyce Brown, 5-7 junior (4.1 ppg. 2.2).

Game notes: Youngstown State won for the first time on the road in the Horizon League on Thursday night beating Valparaiso 92-79 with a second half rally. The Penguins made 14 3-point goals in the contest and were led by senior Heather Karner with 21 points and Tiara Scott with 20, while Velissa Vaughn added 16. Senior Jessica Schloemp added a double double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Butler is coming off a 65-61 loss at home to Cleveland State. The Bulldogs have lost four of their last five games. They had entered Horizon League play with a 10-1 season record, but have gove 3-5 since then in the conference.

Series: Butler leads the overall series with YSU 9-5 and the Bulldogs have won the last three in a row all coming last season when they beat the Penguins twice in the regular season and then again in the Horizon League Tournament. YSU hasn’t beaten the Bulldogs at Butler since the 2002-03 season and they only have one win in the series since then in 2005-06 at YSU.

Next up: The Penguins will return home on Thursday to begin a two-game home stand meeting UW-Green Bay in a 5:15 p.m. contest at Beeghly Center. The game will be the opener of a doubleheader as the YSU men will meet Detroit in the second game at 7:35.

Pete Mollica