Tipoff Notes
Youngstown State goes for its fifth straight win and the eighth in the last nine games when it visits Green Bay, Thursday, Jan. 19. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. at the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wis., and the game will be broadcast on 570 WKBN and ESPN+.

Up Next
Youngstown State closes out its four-game road trip against Milwaukee, Saturday, Jan. 21. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. Eastern at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wis.

Last Time Out
Youngstown State is coming off an impressive 85-69 road victory at Oakland on Jan. 14. Brandon Rush scored a season-high 30 points and tied a career high with seven 3-pointers. Malek Green had 20 points while Bryce McBride had 19, and Adrian Nelson posted a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds.

Scouting Green Bay
Green Bay enters the game with an overall record of 2-17 and 1-7 in Horizon League play. The Phoenix have lost nine straight and their last win was a 70-64 victory over Kansas City on Dec. 10. Leading the Phoenix is Cade Meyer with 11.6 points per game and Clarence Cummings III with 10.0 points per contest.

The Green Bay Series
This is the 53rd meeting between Youngstown State and Green Bay in a series that dates back to 1993. Green Bay leads the all-time series, 36-16, but the Penguins have won the last two and five of the last seven contests. YSU won the last meeting, 63-50, at Beeghly Center. Since 2018, Youngstown State has won six of the last 10 contest.   Youngstown State has only won in Green Bay three times - 2022, 2017, and 2003.

Last Time vs. Green Bay
The Penguins completed its regular-season sweep of Green Bay, 63-50, on Jan. 27, 2022, at the Beeghly Center. Dwayne Cohill finished with a game-high 18 points and tied for a team-high two three pointers made. Three other Penguins reached double figures, including Michael Akuchie who finished the night with 13 points, Will Dunn had 11, and Shemar Rathan-Mayes finished with 10. Dunn posted a team-high eight rebounds.

A Win Would...

• Improve YSU's record to 15-5 and match the Penguins' best record after 20 games since going 15-5 in 1997-98.
• Mark just the second time since 1981-82 YSU has started 15-5 through 20 games.
• Give the Penguins a 7-2 record in Horizon League play for the first time in program history and a 4-1 mark in away conference games.
• Mark the third straight win over Green Bay and the second straight victory at the Resch Center.
• Be YSU's 17th win over the Phoenix and the fourth in Green Bay.
• Improve the Penguins' record to 7-3 on the road.
• Be the 211th in Head Coach Jerrod Calhoun's career and his 87th at Youngstown State.
• Make Jerrod Calhoun the third coach in school history to record at least 87 wins.
• Be Jerrod Calhoun's seventh win over Green Bay.

Most Efficient
As of Jan. 15, Youngstown State led the nation as the highest team offensive efficiency rating, per teamrankings.com. The Penguins ranked first with 1.144 points per possession. Youngstown State was ranked ahead of the likes of Houston, Purdue, and Gonzaga.

Guins Lately
Youngstown State has won four straight and seven of its last eight games. Over the last eight contests, the Penguins are averaging 83.6 points per game while shooting 52.4 percent from the field, 43.7 percent from 3-point range, and 80.7 percent from the free-throw line. Brandon Rush is averaging 17.9 points per game while shooting 56.4 percent from the floor, 49.1 percent from 3-point range, and 91.7 percent from the free-throw line. Dwayne Cohill is averaging 16.6 points and 6.1 assists per game while Malek Green is averaging 14.4 points per game and shooting 59.5 percent from the floor.

Offensive Year for the Books
Youngstown State is posting one of the best offensive seasons with school history. As of Jan. 15, the Penguins free-throw percent of 78.5 and 3-point percentage of 40.7 would both set school single-season records. YSU's 84.9 points per game and 50.3 field-goal percentage would both rank second in school history.

Guins Dig the Long ball
Youngstown State certainly found its rhythm from the 3-point line over the last three games. The Penguins have made at least 11 3-pointers in each game, averaged 14.3 made 3s per game, and have connected on 50.6 percent (43-for-85 from behind the arc. The Penguins tied a school record with 18 against IUPUI (Jan. 7), had 11 against Detroit Mercy (Jan. 12), and made 14 against Oakland (Jan. 14).

Best Horizon League Start
Youngstown State is off to its best start in Horizon League play with its 6-2 league mark. The last time the Penguins were 6-2 in conference play was in 2000-01 when YSU started 8-2 in the Mid-Continent Conference.

Rush Hour
Brandon Rush has been difficult to stop on the offensive end of the floor lately. Since being inserted into the starting lineup, the last 10 games, Rush has been the Penguins top offensive scoring threat. Over that span, Rush averaged 18.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. He also connected on 56.1 percent from the field, 50 percent from 3-point range, and 85.7 percent from the free-throw line. Rush also averaged 3.6 made 3-pointers per game.

McBride Ties Career High
Senior Bryce McBride posted his best offensive performance with YSU when the Penguins needed it most. McBride scored a season-high 19 points on 7-for-11 shooting and tied a career high with five 3s against Oakland on Jan. 14. He also had six assists.

Hot Start
Youngstown State is off to one of the best starts in its Division I history. The Penguins' 14-5  record is tied for the best start after 19 games since 1997-98. It also marks just the second  time since 1981-82 that Youngstown State has won 14 times in its first 19 contests. The last time YSU started 14-5 was in 1997-98.

Better to Give
Senior Dwayne Cohill has always enjoyed getting his teammates involved, and he has excelled over the last four contests. During that span, Cohill has 33 assists for an average of 8.3 assists per game. He also dished out a career-high 11 assists against Oakland on Jan. 14. Cohill also had 10 dimes against IUPUI on Jan. 7. The last player to record at least 10 assists twice in a season was Francisco Santiago in 2016-17.

Guins Nationally
As of Jan. 17, Youngstown State ranks among the top 11 nationally in five different categories. The Penguins ranked second with a 40.7 3-point percentage, fifth with 84.9 points per game, sixth with a 50.3 field-goal percentage and 57.6 effective field-goal percentage, and 11th with a 78.5 free-throw percentage. 

Sweet Charity
Youngstown State has been taking advantage of its time at the free-throw line this season. The Penguins lead the Horizon League and rank 11th in the nation with a .785 free-throw percentage.  Senior Bryce McBride ranks leads the nation the league with a .980 free-throw percentage while Dwayne Cohill is fourth in the league at .838. The Penguins .785 free-throw percentage is on pace to set the school single-season record which was set last season at .761.