YSU BASKETBALL \ Tonight’s games

MEN

Who: Youngstown State (0-0) at Xavier (0-0).

When: Tonight, 7:30.

Where: Cintas Center, Cincinnati,

Radio/TV: WKBN-AM 570; Fox Sports Ohio.

Coaches: Jerry Slocum (Kings College ‘75) is in his fifth season with the Penguins. He is 41-78 at YSU and 621-403 in 35 career seasons. Chris Mack (Xavier ‘92) is in his first season with the Musketeers after spending the last five seasons as an assistant there.

YSU starters (Last season statistics): DeAndre Mays, 6-2 senior guard (10.7 points per game, 4.2 rebounds per game); Sirlester Martin, 6-7 senior forward (9.6 ppg., 7.3 rpg.); Kelvin Bright, 6-4 senior guard (11.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg.); Tom Parks, 6-6 junior forward (4.7 ppg., 1.4 rpg.); Dallas Blocker, 6-9, senior forward (4.4 ppg., 3.1 rpg.).

Xavier starters: Jamel McLean, 6-8 junior forward (4.4 ppg., 4.4 rpg.); Jason Love, 6-9 senior center (6.7 ppg., 5.9 rpg.); Dante Jackson, 6-5 junior guard (6.6 ppg., 3.5 rpg.); Terrell Holloway, 6-0 sophomore guard (5.5 ppg., 2 rpg.); Jordan Crawford, 6-4 sophomore guard (did not play last year).

Outlook: This is the season opener for both teams. YSU is coming off an 11-19 finish a year ago and has four starters returning along with their top four scorers and top rebounder. Senior Sirlester Martin was the second leading rebounder in the Horizon League a year ago. Xavier is coming off a 27-8 season, 14-1 at home and was the Atlantic-10 champions. The Musketeers advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament and return two starters and eight lettermen from that team. They played Northern Kentucky in an exhibition game last week posting an 83-66 victory.

The series: This is only the fourth time the two teams have met and the last time was 59 years ago. Xavier has won all three previous meetings including two at home. They beat the Penguins 58-44 in 1940-41 and then won two games in the 1949-50 season, 68-46 in Cincinnati and 70-59 in Youngstown.

Up next: The Penguins will play their home opener on Sunday when they play host to Hiram College in a 4:05 tip-off at Beeghly Center.

WOMEN

Who: Youngstown State (0-0) at Elon (0-0)

When: Tonight, 7 p.m.

Where: Alumni Gym, Elon, N.C,

Radio/TV: None.

Coaches: Cindy Martin (Florida, ‘99) is in her second season with the Penguins. She went 3-27 a year ago and is 73-50 in her five-year coaching career. Karen Barefoot (Christopher Newport, ‘95) is in her second season at Elon and was 5-26 a year ago.

YSU starters: (last season statistics) Macey Nortey, 5-3 sophomore guard (5.6 points per game, 2.7 rebounds per game); Bojana Dimitrov, 5-7 junior guard (10 ppg, 4.5 rpg. from junior college); Kenya Middlebrooks, 5-8 sophomore guard (3 ppg., 2 rpg.); Brandi Brown, 5-11 freshman forward (24 ppg., 19.6 rpg from high school); Rachael Manuel, 6-3 senior center (1.9 ppg., 2.1 rpg.)

Elon starters: Tiffany Davis, 5-5 senior guard (6.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg.); Urysla Cotton, 6-1 senior forward (9.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg.); Courtney Medley, 5-10 sophomore forward (8.3 ppg., 3.8 rpg.); Lei Lei Hairston, 6-0 freshman forward (first year with team); Ali Ford, 5-3 freshman guard (first year with team).

Outlook: The Penguins open the season with only eight healthy players on the roster, four of them are new additions to the program. Elon, which finished the year 5-26 a season ago, won an exhibition contest against the Apprentice School 100-32 last Sunday.

The series: This will be only the second meeting between the team with Elon winning the first contest in 2003 63-58 at Beeghly Center. The Penguins are 0-4 in games played against teams from North Carolina.

Up next: YSU will remain in North Carolina for a game Saturday night against High Point University in a 7 p.m. tip-off. The Penguins will play their home opener on Wednesday when they host Kent State in a 5:15 p.m. contest at Beeghly Center.

Pete Mollica