YSU Basketball | Today’s games

MEN

YSU (5-7, 1-1) vs.
LOYOLA (5-8, 1-2)

When: 1:05 p.m.
Where: Beeghly Center
Radio/TV: WKBN-AM (570); WYFX-FOX 17/62 (tape delayed)
Coaches: YSU’s Jerry Slocum (Kings College, N.Y.) is 26-45 in his third season with the Penguins; Jim Whitesell (Luther) is 58-47 in his fourth season with the Ramblers.
YSU starters: Byron Davis, 6-2 senior guard (14.2 points per game, 2.1 rebounds); John Barber, 6-7 senior forward (13.6 ppg., 6.8); Vance Cooksey, 6-0, redshirt freshman guard (7.6 ppg., 3.1); Jack Liles, 6-7, junior forward (10.9 ppg., 5.3); Vytas Sulskis, 6-7 freshman guard (8.1. ppg, 3.8).
Loyola starters: Andy Polka, 6-7 sophomore (7.9 ppg. 5.9); Ross Forman, 6-8 sophomore (5.8 ppg. 2.8); Leon Young, 6-6 junior (12.7 ppg. 7.1); Justin Cerasoli, 6-5 junior (11.8 ppg. 3.3); J.R. Blount, 6-1 junior (14.8 ppg. 3.6).
Game notes: The Penguins are on a two-game winning streak including an impressive 80-68 win over Illinois-Chicago on Thursday, the Penguins first Horizon League win. Freshman Vytas Sulskis tossed in a career-high 26 points, while senior John Barber had his sixth career double-double with 24 points and 15 rebounds. The Penguins are now 3-2 at home and are shooting 42.2 percent from the field. Loyola comes into the game losing three of its last four games including a 63-55 Horizon League loss at Cleveland State on Thursday. The Ramblers’ lone league win came at home against UW-Milwaukee 73-68 in overtime. They lost to Green Bay at home 69-63. The Penguins had also lost to Cleveland State 77-54 in Cleveland.
Series: This will be the 18th meeting in the series and YSU trails the Ramblers 9-8 in a series that began back in 1956. Loyola is just 2-6 at Beeghly Center and lost four of its last five times in Youngstown including last season 76-71. The Penguins lost at Loyola a year ago 80-68.
Next up: The Penguins will continue at home on Monday night when they play host to UW-Milwaukee. The game time has been switched to 5:35 p.m. instead of the original starting time of 7:05 p.m.

WOMEN

YSU (6-6, 1-0) vs. LOYOLA (2-10, 0-1)

When: Today, 3:30 p.m.
Where: Beeghly Center
Radio/TV: WKBN-AM (570); WYFX-FOX 17/62 (tape delayed)
Coaches: Tisha Hill (Indiana) is 37-87 in her fifth season with the Penguins. Shannon Reidy (Lake Forest College) is 13-56 in her third season with the Ramblers.
YSU starters: Jessica Schloemp, 6-3 senior (6.8 points per game, 8.2 rebounds); Tiara Scott, 6-0 junior (10.3 ppg, 6.3); Lauren Branson, 5-6 senior (4.6 ppg, 2.8); Kelsey Gurganus, 5-10 junior (7.9 ppg, 3.1); Heather Karner, 5-10 senior (13.6 ppg, 4.3).
Loyola starters: Elyse Van Bogaert, 6-1 sophomore (13.1 ppg. 5.2); Jessica Hylton, 5-10 sophomore (6.3 ppg. 4.1); Brittany Boeke, 6-2 freshman (7.1 ppg. 6.4); Keisha Collins, 5-6 sophomore (9.4 ppg. 3.5); Maggie McCloskey, 5-5 sophomore (12.4 ppg. 2.1).
Game notes: Youngstown State won its Horizon League opener on Thursday beating Illinois Chicago 73-62 at Beeghly Center. The Penguins were led by seniors Heather Karner (19 points), senior Jessica Schloemp (18 rebounds) and junior Tiara Scott (18 points). The Penguins, who have now won two straight, are 3-1 at home this year. They are averaging 59.5 points a game and shooting 36 percent from the field and just 26.2 percent from 3-point range. Loyola has been struggling this season. After winning their opener against Robert Morris the Ramblers lost nine straight before beating Texas Pan American 67-59. They dropped their league opener on Thursday at Cleveland State 75-58. The Ramblers are 0-6 on the road this year. They average 58.7 points a game and are allowing 73.2 points.
Series: The Penguins trail in the overall series with Loyola 8-3, but the teams have split in each of the last three years each team winning at home. Last season the Penguins won 66-64 in Youngstown and lost 67-55 in Chicago.
Next up: The Penguins will go on the road for its next two games up in Wisconsin. They will play at UW-Milwaukee on Thursday in an 8 p.m. tipoff and then play at UW-Green Bay on Saturday. Saturday’s game time has been switched from 4 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Pete Mollica