YSU BASKETBALL \ Today’s games

YSU MEN (7-15, 3-9)
vs. DETROIT (1-10, 5-15)

When: 7:35 p.m.
Where: Beeghly Center
Radio/TV: WKBN-AM (570); WYFX Fox 17-62 (tape delayed tonight)
Coaches: YSU’s Jerry Slocum (Kings College, N.Y.) is 28-53 in his third season with the Penguins; Perry Watson, in his 15th season at Detroit is on a medical leave of absence and associate head coach Kevin Mondro is directing the Titans.
YSU starters: Byron Davis, 6-2 senior guard (14.8 points per game, 2.6 rebounds); John Barber, 6-7 senior forward (13.5 ppg., 7.2); Mikko Niemi, 6-2, junior guard (1.2 ppg., 1.5; Dwight Holmes, 6-6, senior forward (4.3 ppg., 2.1); Vytas Sulskis, 6-7 freshman guard (9.1. ppg., 4.5)
Detroit starters: Jon Goode, 5-10 senior (19.3 ppg. 2.8); Chris Hayes, 6-9 junior (11.2 ppg. 6.4); Michael Harrington, 6-8 junior (2.6 ppg. 3.6); Eulis Goode, 5-10 sophomore (5.6 ppg. 3.2); Woody Payne, 5-10 sophomore (6.4 ppg. 2.5)
Game notes: The Penguins have lost six in a row and eight of their last nine games. Since opening the new year with back-to-back wins over UIC and Loyola, the Penguins have managed just one victory, at Detroit, who is the only team that’s still below them in the standings. After losing last Thursday to Loyola on a last second shot by Tracy Robinson, the Penguins had a poor first half against UIC. They battled back to within six points in the second half after trailing by as many as 18. Detroit snapped a 13-game losing streak last Saturday night with 72-61 win at home against Milwaukee. The Titans almost had two straight win but fell to Green Bay last Thursday, 68-66.

Series: The Penguins ended an 11-game losing streak at Detroit’s Calihan Hall Jan. 12 with a 70-66 win. It was the Penguins first win in Detroit. They also won the final meeting in 2006-07 with the Titans, 82-70, at Beeghly Center where they are 5-5 all time against the Titans. Detroit leads the overall series 17-5.
Next up: The Penguins continue at home Saturday night when they play host to Wright State at 7:05 p.m.

YSU WOMEN (10-10, 5-4)

vs. GREEN BAY (16-4, 8-1)

When: 5:15 p.m.
Where: Beeghly Center
Radio/TV: WKBN-AM (570); WYFX Fox 17-62 (tape delayed tonight)
Coaches: Tisha Hill (Indiana) is 41-91 in her fifth season with the Penguins. Matt Bollant (Winona State) is in his first season with the Phoenix.
YSU starters: Jessica Schloemp, 6-3 senior (6.8 points per game, 7.7 rebounds); Tiara Scott, 6-0 junior (12.9 ppg, 6.8); Lauren Branson, 5-6 senior (5.1 ppg, 2.9); Velissa Vaughn, 5-9 junior (7.4 ppg, 1.2); Heather Karner, 5-10 senior (13.5 ppg, 4.2)
Green Bay starters: Erin Templin, 6-1 junior (8.5 ppg. 5.5); Lavesa Glover, 6-3 junior (12.0 ppg. 5.7); Kati Harty, 5-6 junior (11.7 ppg. 2.7); Kayla Groh, 5-7 senior (13.6 ppg. 3.8); Rachel Porath, 5-10 junior (13.6 ppg. 5.5)
Game notes: Youngstown State lost its last contest at Butler, 63-48 as the Penguins shot just 32 percent from the field, just two days after scoring 92 points in a road win at Valparaiso. The Penguins are 6-1 overall and 4-00 in the Horizon League at Beeghly Center this season. Junior forward Tiara Scott has been the most consistent performer for the Penguins, averaging just under 13 points per game, including 16.4 in the Horizon League. She’s shooting better than 50 percent from the field and averaging almost seven rebounds a game. Green Bay comes into the game on a four-game winning streak and the Phoenix have won 12 of their last 13 games. Their only stumble over that stretch was a 90-88 overtime loss at Valparaiso.
Series: Green Bay has dominated the series, holding a 18-1 all-time record vs. YSU. The Phoenix defeated the Penguins in Green Bay, 85-80, Jan. 12, for their fifth straight win in the series. YSU’s only victory in the series came in 2004-05, 60-56, in Green Bay when the Phoenix was ranked No. 23. YSU has never beaten Green Bay at Beeghly Center.
Next up: The Penguins play host to UW-Milwaukee Saturday at 4:35 p.m.

Pete Mollica