YSU BASKETBALL Today’s game

YSU (8-18, 4-12) vs.
UW-GREEN BAY (13-12, 7-8)

When: 7:05 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 29-56 in his third season with the Penguins; Tod Kowalczyk (Minnesota-Duluth) is 90-85 in his sixth season with the Phoenix.

YSU starters: Byron Davis, 6-2 senior guard (14.7 points per game, 2.9 rebounds); John Barber, 6-7 senior forward (13.2 ppg., 7.0); Mikko Niemi, 6-2, junior guard (1.0 ppg., 1.5; Dwight Holmes, 6-6, senior forward (4.5 ppg., 2.2); Vytas Sulskis, 6-7 freshman guard (8.7. ppg, 4.5).

Green Bay starters: Mike Schachtner, 6-9 junior (16.4 ppg. 4.6); Ryan Tillema, 6-8 junior (11.7 ppg. 3.6); Rahmon Fletcher, 5-10 freshman (10.3 ppg. 2.4); Terry Evans, 6-5 junior (9.6 ppg. 7-0); Randy Berry, 6-9 sophomore (7.1 ppg. 5.2).

Game notes: The Penguins have now lost three straight and eight of their last nine games. Last weekend the Penguins lost at No. 9 ranked Butler 89-73 and at Valparaiso 77-58. Head coach Jerry Slocum said that the team’s inconsistency has been the big problem. “We shot nearly 60 percent against one of the best teams in the country at Butler and then turn around and shoot 38 percent at Valparaiso,” Slocum said. Senior Byron Davis has been the lone consistent player the last two games as he scored 20 points at Butler and 18 at Valparaiso to lead the way. Senior John Barber, who is just 49 points short of reaching 1,000 for his career at YSU, had just one point against Valparaiso in 34 minutes of playing time. Green Bay comes into the contest on a three-game losing streak including a 66-56 loss last Saturday at Milwaukee. The Phoenix has not lost four straight at any time this season, but has struggled on the road where they are 3-10 and has lost eight of its last nine games on the road. Green Bay has three players averaging in double figures led by junior Mike Schachtner with a 16.4 mark, while Ryan Tillema is at 11.7 and Rahmon Fletcher is averaging 10.3.

The Series: The Phoenix leads the overall series 17-4 and has won the last five in a row including a 66-58 decision earlier this year in Green Bay on Jan. 26. YSU’s last win in the series came on Jan. 5, 2006 when they posted a 95-70 win at Beeghly Center.

Next up: The Penguins will make their final road trip of the regular season on Saturday when they trek to Buffalo to take part in the ESPN Bracket Buster event in a 4 p.m. tip off.

Pete Mollica