YSU Basketball - Today’s games

YSU (7-10, 3-4) vs.
BUTLER (16-2, 5-2)

When: 7:05 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 28-48 in his third season with the Penguins; Brad Stevens (DePauw) is in his first season with the Bulldogs.

YSU starters: Byron Davis, 6-2 senior guard (14.6 points per game, 2.6 rebounds); John Barber, 6-7 senior forward (13.9 ppg., 6.7); Vance Cooksey, 6-0, redshirt freshman guard (6.5 ppg., 2.5); Jack Liles, 6-7, junior forward (10.5 ppg., 5.2); Vytas Sulskis, 6-7 freshman guard (8.4. ppg, 4.3).

Butler starters: Matt Howard, 6-8 freshman (13.3 ppg. 5.7); Drew Streicher, 6-8 senior (5.0 ppg. 2.2); Julian Betko, 6-6 senior (5.2 ppg. 3.3); A.J. Graves, 6-1 senior (14.1 ppg. 2.1); Mike Green, 6-1 senior (15.2 ppg. 5.9).

Game notes: The Penguins suffered a disappointing 67-61 loss to Valparaiso on Thursday night. The Penguins shot just 32.1 percent in the first half and still led 22-20, but in the second half, although shooting 58.6 percent from the field, the Penguins missed many easy baskets and finished just 5-of-13 from the free throw line. Senior Byron Davis led the way with 23 points while senior John Barber added 18 points and eight rebounds. Freshman Vytas Sulskis, held to just four points, finished with 11 rebounds and five assists. Butler comes into the game still ranked No. 12 in the country, but the Bulldogs suffered their second loss of the season Thursday at Cleveland State 56-52. Both of Butler’s losses have come in Horizon League play. The loss snapped an eight-game winning streak by the Bulldogs. Butler has gone 70 straight games without losing back-to-back games. Butler is also ranked No. 1 in the country by CollegeInsiders in their Mid-Major poll.

Series: This will be the 14th meeting between the teams with the Bulldogs holding a 12-2 lead. Butler, which is 5-1 at Beeghly Center, has won 12 of the last 13 games including both wins last season: 67-39 at home and 71-58 in Youngstown. YSU’s last win in the series came at Beeghly in 2006, 64-62.

Next up: The Penguins will head back on the road for their next four games beginning next Thursday night at UW-Milwaukee in an 8 p.m. tip-off.

WOMEN

YSU (8-8, 3-2)

vs. DETROIT (3-12, 0-4)

When: 4:35 p.m.

Where: Beeghly Center.

Radio/TV: WKBN-AM (570); Fox 17/62, MyYTV (tape delayed tonight).

Coaches: Tisha Hill (Indiana) is 39-89 in her fifth season with the Penguins. Lee Piepho is the interim head coach of the Titans taking over for Mickey Barnett who resigned.

YSU starters: Jessica Schloemp, 6-3 senior (7.1 points per game, 7.6 rebounds); Tiara Scott, 6-0 junior (12.0 ppg, 6.5); Lauren Branson, 5-6 senior (5.4 ppg, 2.9); Velissa Vaughn, 5-9 junior (5.4 ppg, 0.9); Heather Karner, 5-10 senior (13.7 ppg, 4.1).

Detroit starters: Heather Hatter, 6-0 sophomore (4.4 ppg. 2.1); Sandi Brown, 5-11 junior (9.5 ppg. 4.5); India Bruster, 6-4 senior (5.3 ppg. 6.1); Zemora Davis, 5-9 junior (6.8 ppg. 2.7); Keashawn Bond, 5-9 senior (5.4 ppg. 4.4).

Game notes: Youngstown State rebounded from two tough road losses last week to post a 61-58 win over Wright State Thursday night at Beeghly Center. The Penguins improved to 5-1 at home. Senior Heather Karner led four Penguins in double figures with 16 points and nine rebounds. Junior Velissa Vaughn added 14 points while senior Jessica Schloemp had 13 and junior Tiara Scott scored 10. Detroit has dropped two straight games and four of its last five. The Titans suffered a 63-41 loss at Cleveland State on Thursday night. Detroit is also 1-7 on the road this year.

Series: This will be the 20th meeting between the teams with the Titans holding a 10-9 advantage. The Penguins won both meetings a year ago. They won 55-39 in Youngstown and 58-52 in Detroit. The Titans took both games in 2005-06 with a 77-48 triumph in Youngstown and a 69-62 win in Detroit.

Next up: The Penguins head back out on the road, but their next game will be next Saturday at Cleveland State in a 5 p.m. tip-off. They also will play at Valparaiso (Jan. 31) and at Butler (Feb. 2).

Pete Mollica