YSU MEN’S BASKETBALL

Who: Youngstown State (5-6) vs. Robert Morris (4-7)

When: Tonight, 7:05

Where: Beeghly Center

Radio/TV: WKBN-AM (570), MyYTV (tape delayed at 10 p.m. tonight)

Coaches: Jerry Slocum (Kings College, ‘75) is in his fifth season with the Penguins with a 46-84 record and his 35th season overall with a 626-409 record. Mike Rice (Fordham, ‘91) is in his third season with the Colonials with a 54-26 record.

YSU starters: DeAndre Mays, 6-2 senior guard (12.2 points per game, 2.9 rebounds per game); Sirlester Martin, 6-7 senior forward (11.5 ppg., 5.4 rpg.); Kelvin Bright, 6-4 senior guard (9.0 ppg., 1.1 rpg.); Vytas Sulskis, 6-7 junior guard (10.9 ppg., 3.4 rpg.); Eddie D’Haiti, 6-8 redshirt freshman forward (3.6 ppg., 3.1 rpg.)

Robert Morris starters: Karon Abraham, 5-9 freshman guard (10.3 ppg., 1.9 rpg.); Velton Jones, 6-0 redshirt freshman guard (8.3 ppg., 2.1 rpg.); Rob Robinson, 6-8 senior forward (7.9 ppg., 5.4 rpg.); Mezie Nwigwe, 6-4 senior guard (7.3 ppg., 3.4 rpg.); Dallas Green, 6-8 senior forward (6.0 ppg., 4.5 rpg.)

Game notes: The Penguins were idle the last seven days. They defeated High Point, N.C. on Dec. 22 82-69 as Martin tied a career high with 20 ponts on 10-for-14 shooting from the field. The Colonials have dropped two straight including a 71-51 contest at home to Kent State last week. They’ve lost three of their last four with the only victory being an impressive 78-70 win at Cleveland State. Robert Morris head coach Mike Rice is the son of former YSU head coach Mike Rice, who coached the Penguins from 1983-87, posting a 75-67 record.

The series: This is the 11th meeting between the teams with the Colonials holding a 6-4 advantage including wins in the last four meetings. The last three contests between the teams have been decided by a total of six points as the Colonials won 74-72 at Robert Morris last year, 74-71 in 2007 and 79-78 in 2006.

Next up: The Penguins will begin the New Year on Saturday with a home contest against Horizon League opponent Cleveland State in a 7:05 tip-off at Beeghly. The game will be part of a doubleheader as the YSU women will host Milwaukee in a 4:35 tip-off.

Pete Mollica