YSU preview Men’s basketball

Who: Youngstown State (0-1) vs Hiram (0-0).

When: Today, 4:05.

Where: Beeghly Center

Radio: WKBN-AM 570

Coaches: Jerry Slocum (Kings College ‘75) is in his fifth season with the Penguins. He is 41-79 at YSU and 621-404 in 35 career seasons. Steve Fleming (Hiram, ‘94) is beginning his fourth season at Hiram and was 16-10 last season.

YSU starters: DeAndre Mays, 6-2 senior guard (5.0 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game); Sirlester Martin, 6-7 senior forward (11.0 ppg., 4.0 rpg.); Kelvin Bright, 6-4 senior guard 2.0 ppg, 1.0 rpg.); Tom Parks, 6-6 junior forward (0.0 ppg., 0.0 rpg.); Dallas Blocker, 6-9, senior forward (3.0 ppg., 1.0 rpg.).

Hiram starters: (Last season statistics) Glen Campbell, 6-0 junior guard (5.8 ppg., 2.4 rpg.); Chris Roberts, 6-3 junior forward (17.1 ppg., 5.4 rpg.); Babajide Eniola, 6-4 junior forward (8.7 ppg., 7.5 rpg.); Deon Milton, 6-3 junior guard (6.9 ppg., 3.0 rpg.); Nick Russo, 5-9 junior guard (4.3 ppg., 1.0 rpg.)

Outlook: The Penguins dropped their season opener Friday to nationally-ranked Xavier 83-57. The Penguins shot just 25.8 percent in the first half and just 32.8 percent for the game and were out-rebounded 39-30. Junior Vytas Sulskis led the Penguins with 12 points and senior Sirlester Martin added 11. Last season’s two top scorers Kelvin Bright and DeAndre Mays combined for four points and Mays was 1-for-12 from the field.

The series: This is the 31st meeting between the teams with the Penguins holding a 25-5 advantage. The series began back in 1928-29 and the teams last met in the 1988-89 season with the Penguins posting a 97-74 victory at Beeghly Center.

Up next: The Penguins remain at home Wednesday when they play Kent State in a 7:35 tip-off at Beeghly. The YSU women will play the Kent State women in the first game of the doubleheader at 5:15 p.m.

Pete Mollica