YSU BASKETBALL\ Today’s games

YSU MEN (7-13, 3-7)
vs. LOYOLA (7-13, 3-7)

When: 8 p.m.
Where: Gentile Center, Chicago
Radio: WKBN-AM (570)
Coaches: YSU’s Jerry Slocum (Kings College, N.Y.) is 28-51 in his third season with the Penguins; Jim Whitesell (Luther) is 60-52 in his fourth season with the Ramblers.
YSU starters: Byron Davis, 6-2 senior guard (15.1 points per game, 2.7 rebounds); John Barber, 6-7 senior forward (13.5 ppg., 7.0); Mikko Niemi, 6-2 junior guard (0.9 ppg., 1.5); Jack Liles, 6-7, junior forward (10.8 ppg., 4.8); Vytas Sulskis, 6-7 freshman guard (9.0. ppg, 4.6)
Loyola starters: Tracy Robinson, 6-7 senior (9.2 ppg. 3.5); Andy Polka, 6-7 sophomore (8.5 ppg. 6.6); Darrin Williams, 6-8 junior (3.2 ppg. 2.2); Cortney Horton, 6-2 senior (2.2 ppg. 1.5); J.R. Blount, 6-1 junior (15.9 ppg. 3.5)
Game notes: The Penguins’ losing streak has reached four games following last weekend’s double defeat in Wisconsin. YSU dropped a 76-69 decision at Milwaukee and then lost 66-58 at Green Bay. The Penguins are 2-8 on the road this season and just 1-4 in Horizon League road games. Sulskis led the Penguins at Green Bay with 19 points, while Davis added 16. YSU has lost six of its last seven games and three of those losses were at home. Loyola is coming off a 65-63 victory over Valparaiso on the Crusaders’ home floor Saturday. Blount scored the game winning basket with four seconds remaining on the clock. Blount’s game-winner also put him over 1,000 points for his career. The Ramblers who snapped a two-game losing streak, but still have lost six of their last eight games.
Series: This will be the 19th meeting between the teams. YSU’s 71-61 victory Jan. 5 at Beeghly pulled the Penguins even with the Ramblers in the overall series 9-9. However the Penguins have won just twice in Chicago, the last time in 2005. Last year the teams split with each winning at home. Two of YSU’s losses have come during the Horizon League tournament.
Next up: The Penguins will finish their four game road trip Saturday when they play at Illinois-Chicago at 8 p.m. before returning home Feb. 7 to play Detroit at 7:35.

When: 8:05 p.m.
Where: Athletics-Recreation Center, Valparaiso, Ind.
Radio: none
Coaches: Tisha Hill (Indiana) is 40-90 in her fifth season with the Penguins. Keith Freeman is 238-161 in his 14th season with the Crusaders.
YSU starters: Jessica Schloemp, 6-3 senior (6.9 points per game, 7.3 rebounds); Tiara Scott, 6-0 junior (12.3 ppg, 6.6); Lauren Branson, 5-6 senior (5.3 ppg, 2.8); Velissa Vaughn, 5-9 junior (6.5 ppg, 1.1); Heather Karner, 5-10 senior (13.4 ppg, 4.2)
Valparaiso starters: Aimee Litka, 5-9 junior (14.6 ppg. 4.8); Sarah Ott, 6-1 junior (9.0 ppg. 3.9); Agnieszka Kulaga, 5-6 junior (15.3 ppg. 5.3); Launa Hochstetler, 5-6 junior (9.3 ppg. 2.5); Kelly Peller, 5-11 sophomore (1.4 ppg. 1.4)
Game notes: Youngstown State had its two-game winning streak snapped last Saturday at Cleveland State 77-64. YSU still doesn’t have a win on the road in Horizon League play (0-3), but is a perfect 4-0 at home. The Penguins are just 2-8 overall on the road. Defense was the downfall for the Penguins against CSU, especially on the boards, where the Penguins were outrebounded 44-31. Junior Kelsey Gurganus came off the bench to lead the Penguins with 14 points, but all of them were scored in the first half and 11 of those over a four minute span late in the half. Valparaiso is coming off a 71-50 win over Detroit Saturday. The Crusaders also dropped a 51-50 league contest at Wright State last Thursday. The Crusaders are also one of just two teams in the league who have beaten league-leading Green Bay as they beat the Phoenix 90-88 in overtime Jan. 19.
Series: This will be the first meeting between the teams since the 2001-02 season, the year after YSU left the Mid-Continent Conference. Overall it will be the 22nd meeting with the Penguins holding a 12-9 advantage. Valpo won that last game in 2001, 77-55 at home. The Penguins are just 3-7 at Valparaiso and their last win there was in 2000-01 when they posted a 73-64 victory.
Next up: The Penguins will finish a three-game road trip at Butler Saturday with a 2 p.m. tip-off. The Penguins return home Feb. 7 to take on Green Bay at 5:35 p.m.