PREVIEW YSU basketball

YSU MEN (9-20, 5-13) vs.
ILLINOIS-CHICAGO (16-14, 9-9)

When: 8 p.m.
Where: UIC Pavilion
What: Horizon League first-round tournament.
Radio/TV: WKBN-AM (570)
Coaches: YSU’s Jerry Slocum (Kings College, N.Y.) is 30-58 in his third season with the Penguins and 610-383 in 32 seasons overall; Jimmy Collins (New Mexico State) is 192-170 in 12 seasons at UIC.
YSU starters: Vance Cooksey, 6-1, freshman guard (6.1 points per game, 2.3 rebounds per game); Byron Davis, 6-2 senior guard (15.3, 3.1); Vytas Sulskis, 6-7 freshman guard (9.1, 4.3) John Barber, 6-7 senior forward (13.6, 7.0); Jack Liles, 6-8, junior forward (9.9, 4.3)
Illinois-Chicago starters: Josh Mayo, 5-11 junior guard (17.6 points per game, 2.6 rebounds per game); Robert Bush, 6-4 senior forward (7.3, 3.2); Spencer Stewart, 6-4 sophomore guard (5.6, 2.4); Scott VanderMeer, 7-0 junior center (9.5, 7.4); Jermaine Dailey, 6-7 senior forward (5.3, 4.3)
Game notes: The Penguins have lost 11 of their last 13 games, including a 65-58 loss to Cleveland State Saturday in the regular-season finale at Beeghly Center. Barber had 12 points and 10 rebounds for YSU. Davis and Cooksey both scored 10, but the Penguins were done in by 4-of-20 shooting from the 3-point line.
The series: UIC leads 18-2 and has never lost in nine games against YSU at UIC Pavilion. The Penguins did win, 80-68, at Beeghly Center on Jan. 3, as Barber scored 24 points and had 15 rebounds. He was held to nine points and seven rebounds in the February rematch. Sulskis averaged 22 points in the two games to lead the Penguins. Mayo averaged 19 points against YSU this season and White averaged 16. Vandermeer averaged 10 points and 10.5 rebounds against the Penguins.
Next up: The winner of this game will play either Wisconsin-Milwaukee or Loyola of Chicago in the second round Friday. If the Penguins win they will be on the road regardless of the opponent.

When: 8 p.m.
Where: UIC Pavilion
What: Horizon League first-round tournament.
Radio/TV: WKBN-AM (570)
Coaches: YSU’s Jerry Slocum (Kings College, N.Y.) is 30-58 in his third season with the Penguins and 610-383 in 32 seasons overall; Jimmy Collins (New Mexico State) is 192-170 in 12 seasons at UIC.
YSU starters: Vance Cooksey, 6-1, freshman guard (6.1 points per game, 2.3 rebounds per game); Byron Davis, 6-2 senior guard (15.3, 3.1); Vytas Sulskis, 6-7 freshman guard (9.1, 4.3) John Barber, 6-7 senior forward (13.6, 7.0); Jack Liles, 6-8, junior forward (9.9, 4.3)
Illinois-Chicago starters: Josh Mayo, 5-11 junior guard (17.6 points per game, 2.6 rebounds per game); Robert Bush, 6-4 senior forward (7.3, 3.2); Spencer Stewart, 6-4 sophomore guard (5.6, 2.4); Scott VanderMeer, 7-0 junior center (9.5, 7.4); Jermaine Dailey, 6-7 senior forward (5.3, 4.3)
Game notes: The Penguins have lost 11 of their last 13 games, including a 65-58 loss to Cleveland State Saturday in the regular-season finale at Beeghly Center. Barber had 12 points and 10 rebounds for YSU. Davis and Cooksey both scored 10, but the Penguins were done in by 4-of-20 shooting from the 3-point line.
The series: UIC leads 18-2 and has never lost in nine games against YSU at UIC Pavilion. The Penguins did win, 80-68, at Beeghly Center on Jan. 3, as Barber scored 24 points and had 15 rebounds. He was held to nine points and seven rebounds in the February rematch. Sulskis averaged 22 points in the two games to lead the Penguins. Mayo averaged 19 points against YSU this season and White averaged 16. Vandermeer averaged 10 points and 10.5 rebounds against the Penguins.
Next up: The winner of this game will play either Wisconsin-Milwaukee or Loyola of Chicago in the second round Friday. If the Penguins win they will be on the road regardless of the opponent.

Vindicator staff report