YSU BASKETBALL \ Today’s preview

January 3, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

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YSU (4-8, 1-2) vs. WRIGHT STATE (7-7, 1-2)

Tip-off: Today, 7 p.m. at Ervin J. Nutter Center, Dayton Radio: WKBN-AM 570 Coaches: Jerry Slocum (Kings, N.Y. ‘75) is 34-66 in his fourth season with the Penguins and 614-392 all-time; Brad Brown ell (DePauw, ‘91) is in his third season with the Raiders with a 51-27 record. YSU starters: Vytas Sulskis, 6-7, sophomore guard (11.9 points per game, 3.9 rebounds per game); Jack Liles, 6-7 senior forward (8.6 ppg., 6.3 rpg); DeAndre Mays, 6-2 junior guard (9.8 ppg., 4.1 rpg.) Kelvin Bright, 6-4 junior guard (14.6 ppg., 3.4 rpg.); Sirlester Martin, 6-7 junior forward (9.6 ppg., 7.8 rpg.). Wright State starters: Cory Cooperwood, 6-7 junior forward (10.6 ppg., 5.0 rpg.); Ronnie Thomas, 6-9 junior forward (4.1 ppg., 3.1 rpg.); John David Gardner, 6-4 junior guard (9.5 ppg., 2.5 rpg.); Todd Brown, 6-5 junior guard (6.4 ppg., 4.4 rpg.); Will Graham, 6-2 senior guard (5.1 ppg., 3.1 rpg.) Game notes: The Penguins earned their first Horizon League victory of the year, an 80-78 win at Detroit on Thursday afternoon. YSU has won three of its last four. Against Detroit the Penguins rallied from a second half deficit behind Mays and Bright who scored 19 and 17 points respectively, while Sulskis hit four clutch free throws down the stretch to ensure the victory. Wright State is on a hot streak, winning five straight including its first Horizon win on Tuesday beating Cleveland State at home 71-62. The Raiders won three straight in the San Juan Shootout and have won seven of their last eight; the only loss was at Wake Forest. The Raiders opened the season with six straight losses. The series: This is the 37th meeting between the teams in a series that began in 1976. Wright State holds a 29-7 advantage including a pair of wins last season, 66-55 at Dayton and 50-47 at YSU. The Penguins’ last win in the series came in 2006-07 when they won at home 72-57. It is the only win for the Penguins in the last 12 meetings since they joined the Horizon League. Up next: The Penguins return home for their next two games beginning Thursday when they host Illinois-Chicago in a 7:35 contest at Beeghly Center and then take on Loyola on Jan. 10 in a 7:05 start.

YSU (2-9, 0-0) vs. VALPARAISO (5-5, 0-0)

When: Today, 2:35 p.m. Where: Athletics-Recreation Center, Valparaiso, Ind. Radio/TV: none Coaches: Cindy Martin (Florida, ‘99) is in her first season with the Penguins and is 72-32 in her career. Keith Freeman (Huntington, ‘86) is in his 15th season with the Crusaders with a 248-173 record. YSU probable starters: Macey Nortey, 5-foot-3 freshman guard (6.3 points per game), 2.8 rebounds per game); Kelsey Gurganus, 5-8 senior guard (5.8 ppg., 2.7 rpg.); Jaquetta Westley, 5-7 junior guard (7.0 ppg., 2.8 rpg.); Tiara Scott, 6-0 senior forward (9.9 ppg., 5.1 rpg.); Nikita LaFleur, 6-2 senior center (8.9 ppg., 9.0 rpg.). Valparaiso probable starters: Lauren Kenney, 5-4 sophomore guard (12.8 ppg., 4.4 rpg.); Aimee Litka, 5-9 senior forward (13.2 ppg., 5.2 rpg.); Sylwia Zabielewicz, 6-6 junior center (2.2 ppg., 2.9 rpg.); Launa Hochstetler, 5-6 senior guard (10.3 ppg., 3.1 rpg.); Agnieszka Kulaga, 5-7 senior guard (15.6 ppg., 4.6 rpg.) Game notes: The Penguins lost their final non-conference game on Tuesday, losing 69-61 at Toledo. The Penguins have lost six of their last seven. YSU is 1-6 on the road. Junior Westley had a career-high 20 points in the loss to Toledo. Valparaiso snapped a three-game losing streak in its last outing, beating North Florida 58-49 in the consolation game of the Christmas City Classic in Bethlehem, Pa. on Tuesday. Earlier this season the Crusaders pulled off a big upset, knocking off No. 23-ranked Purdue 71-60. Series: This will be the 24th meeting between the two schools, with the Penguins holding a 13-10 advantage. Last year, Valparaiso’s first in the Horizon League, the the Penguins won 92-79 at Valpo and the Crusaders won 70-59 in Youngstown. The teams had met only one other time since the Penguins left the Mid-Contintent Conference after the 2000-01 season. Valparaiso beat the Penguins 77-55 at home in 2001-02.SFlbUp next: The Penguins play another league contest at Butler in a 7 p.m. tip off Monday. Their next home game is Jan. 8 when they host UW-Milwaukee in a 5:15 contest at Beeghly Center.