YSU BASKETBALL PREVIEW / today’S GAME

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Matchup: YSU (7-12, 1-8 Horizon League) vs. Loyola (12-8, 3-6).

Tip-off: 8 p.m. at Gentile Center.

Radio/TV: WKBN-AM (570); HorizonLeague.tv

Coaches: YSU — Jerry Slocum 56-112 at YSU, 636-437 career; Loyola — Jime Whitesell 105-100 at Loyola, 383-294 overall.

YSU starters: Blake Allen (5.4 points per game, 2.3 rebounds per game, 2.2 assists per game), 6-1 sophomore guard; Devonte Maymon (9.6 ppg, 1.8 apg), 6-2 junior guard; Ashen Ward (8.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg), 6-3 junior small forward; Vytas Sulskis (13.5 ppg, 5.7 rebounds per game, 2.2 apg), 6-7 senior forward; Damian Eargle (9.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 3.0 blocks per game), 6-7 sophomore center.

Loyola starters: Shaun Adams (1.8 ppg, 1.1 rpg), 6-6 sophomore forward; Ben Averkamp (11.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg), 6-8 sophomore forward; Walt Gibler (10.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg); Courtney Stanley (6.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg), 6-1 junior guard; Terrance Hill (10.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg), 6-4 senior guard.

Series history: Loyola 13-11. Last meeting: Loyola won 83-53 on Jan. 1.

Notebook: This is the 2,000th game in YSU history. The Penguins are 990-1,009 all-time. ... Sulskis has scored 1,176 points and needs 12 more to move into 19th place in YSU history. ... Eargle leads the Horizon League in blocked shots. He has 57 for the season, the third-highest total in school history.

Next game: YSU plays at UIC at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Vindicator staff report