YSU BASKETBALL \ Today’s games
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YSU (7-9, 3-3)
vs. VALPARAISO (12-5, 3-2)
When: 7:35 p.m.
Where: Beeghly Center
Radio/TV: WKBN-AM (570); Fox 17/62, MyYTV (tape delayed tonight)
Coaches: YSU’s Jerry Slocum (Kings College, N.Y.) is 28-47 in his third season with the Penguins; Homer Drew (William Jewell) is in his 19th season with the Crusaders with a record of 314-245.
YSU starters: Byron Davis, 6-2 senior guard (14.1 points per game, 2.4 rebounds); John Barber, 6-7 senior forward (13.7 ppg., 6.6); Vance Cooksey, 6-0, redshirt freshman guard (6.9 ppg., 2.6); Jack Liles, 6-7, junior forward (10.4 ppg., 5.4); Vytas Sulskis, 6-7 freshman guard (8.6. ppg, 3.9)
Valparaiso starters: Shawn Huff, 6-6 senior (11.6 ppg. 4.9); Samuel Haanpaa, 6-8 sophomore (11.4 ppg. 3.2); Urule Igbavboa, 6-8 junior (10.5 ppg. 6.4); Brandon McPherson, 6-1 junior (8.9 ppg. 1.6); Jake Diebler, 6-2 junior (4.7 ppg. 3.2)
Game notes: The Penguins are coming off their first victory at Detroit last Saturday, 70-66. Detroit natives Byron Davis and John Barber, both seniors, scored 17 and 22 points respectively, while freshman Vytas Sulskis tossed in 18 points. Last Thursday the Penguins suffered a 66-55 loss at Wright State to split their two road games in league play. It will be a big night tonight with Valparaiso returning to Beeghly Center. The Penguins and Crusaders were both members of the Mid-Continent Conference (now the Summit League). This is Valpo’s first season in the Horizon League. The Crusaders suffered their first home loss of the season last Thursday bowing to UW-Milwaukee 71-69, but rebounded Saturday to defeat UW-Green Bay 82-73. The Crusaders opened the season winning 10 of their first 11 games, but have since lost four of their last six, three of them on the road. Sophomore Samuel Haanpaa (6-8 guard) had 24 points in the win over Green Bay.
Series: The Penguins are 7-16 all-time against the Crusaders, who have won the last four meetings. YSU’s last win over the Crusaders came at Beeghly Center 55-49 in February of 2000. Valparaiso won the last time the two teams met at Beeghly in 2001, 80-50.
Next up: The Penguins will remain at home on Saturday night when they entertain 12th ranked Butler in a 7:05 contest at Beeghly. The game will be part of a doubleheader with the YSU women playing Detroit in the opener at 4:35.
WOMEN
YSU (7-8, 2-2)
vs. WRIGHT STATE (5-9, 2-1)
When: 5:35 p.m.
Where: Beeghly Center
Radio/TV: WKBN-AM (570); Fox 17/62, MyYTV (tape delayed tonight)
Coaches: Tisha Hill (Indiana) is 38-89 in her fifth season with the Penguins. Bridgett Williams (Southern Illinois) is in her seventh season with the Raiders and has a 69-113 record.
YSU starters: Jessica Schloemp, 6-3 senior (6.7 points per game, 7.8 rebounds); Tiara Scott, 6-0 junior (12.1 ppg, 6.6); Lauren Branson, 5-6 senior (5.6 ppg, 2.7); Kelsey Gurganus, 5-10 junior (8.1 ppg, 3.1); Heather Karner, 5-10 senior (13.5 ppg, 3.8)
Wright State starters: Sheylani Peddy, 5-6 freshman (14.8 ppg. 4.0); Kanisha Ward, 5-6 sophomore (10.5 ppg. 3.2); Whitney Lewis, 6-0 senior (12.8 ppg. 4.9); Sierra Crayton, 5-11 senior (9.4 ppg. 5.7); LaShawna Thomas, 5-6 freshman (10.8 ppg. 3.1)
Game notes: Youngstown State suffered a pair of losses on its trip to Wisconsin last weekend, dropping 76-66 decision in Milwaukee and then battled Green Bay to the wire before losing an 85-80 decision to the Horizon League leaders. Senior Heather Karner, who struggled against Milwaukee came back with 20 points against Green Bay, while junior Tiara Scott scored 22 points against the Panthers and added 19 points and 12 rebounds against Green Bay. Wright State comes into the game following a 71-53 win at Detroit on Saturday. The Raiders have won three of their last four games including a 57-56 win over Milwaukee in Dayton. The Raiders only loss over that span was to Green Bay 67-52 also at home.. The Raiders struggled early in the year losing eight of their first 10 games.
Series: This will be the 34th meeting between the teams with the Penguins holding a 19-14 advantage. Wright State has won the last eight meetings including the last three played at Beeghly Center. Last season the Raiders won 57-52 in Beeghly and 47-40 at the Nutter Center. YSU’s last win over the Raiders came in 2004 in Dayton 54-42, while their last win at home was in 2003, 80-68.
Next up: The Penguins will continue at home on Saturday when they play host to Detroit in a 4:35 p.m. tip off at Beeghly. The game will be the opener of a doubleheader with the YSU men taking on Butler in the second game at 7:05 p.m.
Pete Mollica