Setting the Scene
• The Youngstown State men's basketball team plays the first postseason road game in its Division I history when it visits Fresno State in the quarterfinals of The Basketball Classic, Wednesday, March 23. Tipoff is slated for 10 p.m. EDT at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif. Game coverage is available on ESPN+/570 WKBN/iHeartRadio App.
• The Penguins (19-14), who are coming off a 70-65 win over Morgan Stat on March 16, are seeking just the second 20-win campaign in the program's Division I history.
• Junior Dwayne Cohill led the Penguins with 28 points while Tevin Olison and Michael Akuchie added 12 and 11 points, respectively.
• The Bulldogs (20-13) are coming off an 83-74 win over Eastern Washington on March 17.
• Orlando Robinson leads the Bulldogs with 19.1 points per game while Isaiah Hill is averaging 10.1 points per contest.
• Junior Dwayne Cohill, who has averaged 16.4 points per game over the last 27 contests, has scored in double figures 18 of the last 19 games, including a career-high 31 against UIC on Feb. 17, 28 vs. Morgan State on March 16, 25 vs. Robert Morris on March 1, 25 against Wright State on Jan. 15 and 24 versus Oakland on Feb. 9.
• Senior Michael Akuchie became the 41st player in school history to record 1,000 career points after scoring 12 points against Northern Kentucky on Jan. 13 and ranks 22nd all-time with 1,234 points. Akuchie also became just the third YSU Division I player to accumulate 800 career boards and has 834.
• This is the first meeting between Youngstown State and Fresno State.
• This is the Penguins' third Division I postseason appearance and the second in the last three seasons. Youngstown State accepted a berth to the 2020 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT), but the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.
• The Penguins, who have a postseason record of 2-1, first appeared in the postseason when they played in the CIT in 2013. YSU owns a CIT record of 1-1 after defeating Oakland, 99-87, and falling to Canisius, 84-82, in overtime in 2013. Both games were at Beeghly Center.
About Fresno State
Fresno State enters the game with a 20-13 overall record and is coming off an 83-74 win over Eastern Washington on March 17.
Orlando Robinson leads the Bulldogs with 19.5 points per game while Isaiah Hill is averaging 10.1 points per contest.
The FSU Series
This is the first meeting between Youngstown State and Fresno State.
In the Postseason
Youngstown State owns a 2-1 all-time record in postseason games after defeating Morgan State, 70-65, on March 16.
The Penguins last played in the postseason in the 2013 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT).
YSU defeated Oakland, 99-87, and lost to Canisius, 84-82, in overtime in 2013. Both games were at Beeghly Center.
The Penguins accepted a berth to the 2020 CIT, but the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.
Last time Out: YSU 70, MSU 65
Junior
Dwayne Cohill led the Penguins with 28 points to lead the Penguins to a 70-65 win over Morgan State in the first round of The Basketball Classic on March 16.
A Win Would
• Improve YSU to 20-14 overall and advance the Penguins to the semifinals of The Basketball Classic.
• Mark Youngstown State's first win over Fresno State.
• Mark the Penguins' third postseason win in the school's Division I history.
• Mark the most wins (53) over a three-year period since 1982-83, 1983-84 and 1984-85 (52).
• Tied the mark for most wins in YSU's Division I history.
• Mark the second time in program's Division I history to reach 20 wins in a season.
• Mark the most wins (20) since 1997-98.
Guins at Home
Youngstown State has won 36 home games over the last three seasons, including 13 in 2021-22.
The 36 wins marks a Division I record during a three-season span.
Nearing Division I Wins Record
After earning its 19th win of the season with a 70-65 win over Morgan State on Feb. 19, Youngstown State set a record for most wins in the regular season as members of the Horizon League.
The Penguins are also approaching two more school records. Youngstown State is also just one wins shy of tying the Division I mark for most wins in a season of 20, set in 1997-98.
Most D-1 Wins (Reg. Season)
1997-98: 20 (18)
2021-22: 19 (18)
2000-01: 19 (19)
1984-85: 19 (17)
2019-20: 18 (17)
2012-13: 18 (16)
1994-95: 18 (17)
1983-84: 18 (17)
Third Straight Winning Season
Youngstown State has guaranteed itself a third straight winning season in 2021-22.
It marks just the second time in the Penguins' Division I history that they have posted three consecutive winning records.
The only other time was in 1982-83, 1983-84, and 1984-85.
School Mark for Conference Wins
With its 74-61 win over IUPUI on Feb. 19, Youngstown State set a school record with its 12th conference win.
The previous record was 11 set by during the 2000-01 and 1997-98 seasons as members of the Mid-Continent Conference.
Sweet Charity
Youngstown State is having an impressive season at the free-throwing line with a team free-throw percentage of .756.
Seven players are shooting better than 75 percent and senior
Michael Akuchie leads the team at 83.1 percent.
Akuchie ranks fourth in the Horizon League while junior
Dwayne Cohill is fifth in the league at 82.0 percent.
Youngstown State's current free-throw percentage of .756 is tied for the single-season record.
The single-season record is .756 in 1979-80.
Road Warriors
YSU has won six games on the road, including five Horizon League road victories, with two of the wins coming by more than 18 points. Two of the Guins' road losses came at Penn State and at West Virginia.
After losing to Penn State in the opener, YSU beat Southeast Missouri, 97-79, and posted league wins at Milwaukee (72-70) and Green Bay (82-58) before falling at WVU on Dec. 22. The Penguins also have road league wins at Robert Morris, 64-60, IUPUI, 61-55, and UIC, 66-64.
