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Tough test ahead for YSU defense
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
For Youngstown State University men’s basketball coach Jerry Slocum, choosing between Oakland’s Corey Petros and Kahlil Felder is like choosing between lead and mercury.
Petros can kill your team inside, Felder outside.
“You try to pick your poison,” he said Monday.
On Feb. 1, they were both deadly, combining for 40 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists and just two turnovers in a 96-80 win over the Penguins at Beeghly Center.
The 96 points were the most given up by YSU this season.
“I think they’re the most gifted offensive team in the league,” said Slocum, whose team plays at Oakland on Wednesday night. “If I was ranking the teams right now in terms of the hottest teams in the league and the best teams in the league, I’d go Valpo one, them two, Cleveland State and then Green Bay.
“They’re very, very gifted offensively in a league that’s somewhat challenged at the offensive end.”
The Golden Grizzlies lead the nine-team league in scoring at 74 points per game, while YSU is second at 71.6. Oakland is also last in the league in defense, giving up 74.4 points per game, while YSU is eighth at 74.2.
Felder, the league’s freshman of the year last season, is third in the Horizon League in scoring at 17.3 points per game while Petros is ninth with 14.2. Petros also leads the league in rebounding (8.2 per game) and field goal percentage (.606). Felder is first in assists by a wide margin with 7.7 per game — YSU guard D.J. Cole is second at 4.7 — and Felder is also second in steals with 1.9 per game.
“When you look at them on film, you say, ‘Are you gonna give up 2s or give up 3s?’” Slocum said.
Senior night looms
Seniors Shawn Amiker and Cole will likely play their final game at Beeghly Center on Saturday against Milwaukee. Amiker is YSU’s career leader in games played with 125, passing Kendrick Perry (123) last week. He’s started 50 games, including 27 this season.
“I’ve thought about it [Senior Night], but not a lot,” said Amiker, who has played in every YSU game over the last four years. “It’s exciting, but a little bitter also. It’s maybe the last time I get to play in front of everybody here.”
Cole has appeared in 118 career games, starting all but one over the past two years. He ranks fifth on YSU’s all-time assists list with 404. (Terry Moore is first with 619 from 1973-76.)
“Those guys have given a great effort to this program,” Slocum said. “Both of those young guys have great families and they’ve made great contributions to our program on and off the floor.”
Milestone in sight
Slocum missed his first chance at 700 victories with Saturday’s 83-70 loss to Detroit. He’ll have at least three more chances this season, since YSU is guaranteed to play a first-round Horizon League tournament game.
The Penguins (11-8, 2-12) need to win both games this week to host that game, so it’s more likely they’ll start the tournament on the road at Detroit, Wright State or UIC. YSU is 0-2 against Detroit and has split the two meetings against Wright State and UIC this season. YSU is a game behind UIC and WSU in the league standings.