Tipoff Notes
Youngstown State goes for its sixth straight win and the ninth in the last 10 games when it visits Milwaukee, Saturday, Jan. 21. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.Eastern at the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee, Wis., and the game will be broadcast on 570 WKBN and ESPN+.

Up Next
Youngstown State returns home to host Oakland, Friday, Jan. 27, in a nationally televised broadcast on ESPN2. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. Eastern at Beeghly Center and can also be heard on 570 WKBN.

Last Time Out
Youngstown State is coming off an 86-70 win over Green Bay on Jan. 19. Senior Dwayne Cohill led four players scoring in double figures with 26 points. Malek Green had 17 points and eight rebounds while Adrian Nelson posted his eighth double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Brandon Rush added 10 points.

Scouting Milwaukee
Milwaukee enters the game with a 13-6 overall record and a 7-2 mark in Horizon League play. The Panthers have won five of their last six and are coming off a 77-69 win over Robert Morris on Jan. 19. Leading the Panthers is BJ Freeman with 14.5 points per game and Kentrell Pullian with 10.7 points per contest.

The Milwaukee Series
This is the 51st meeting between Youngstown State and Milwaukee in a series that dates back to 1972. Milwaukee leads the all-time series, 32-18, but the Penguins have won the last four and six of the last seven contests.The Penguins swept the season series last year with an 86-72 win at Beeghly Center and a 70-68 victory in Milwaukee.

Last Time vs. Milwaukee
Michael Akuchie scored a career-high 33 points, and the Youngstown State men's basketball team led by double digits for the final 33 minutes in an 86-72 victory over Milwaukee on Jan. 29, 2022, at the Beeghly Center. Akuchie had 22 points in the first half as Youngstown State built a 41-21 lead. He finished 10-of-17 from the field, 6-for-10 from 3-point range and 7-for-8 from the free-throw line. Three other Penguins reached double figures as William Dunn scored 19, Dwayne Cohill had 16, and Myles Hunter added 12 off the bench.

A Win Would...

• Improve YSU's record to 16-5 and match the Penguins' best record after 21 games since going 16-5 in 1997-98.
• Mark just the second time since 1981-82 YSU has started 16-5 through 21 games.
• Give the Penguins a 8-2 record in Horizon League play for the first time in program history and a 5-1 mark in away conference games.
• Mark the fifth straight win over the Panthers, the fourth consecutive victory in Milwaukee, and the seventh out of the last eight contests.
• Be YSU's 19th win over Milwaukee and its seventh in Milwaukee. 
• Improve the Penguins' record to 8-3 on the road.
• Set a YSU Division I single-season record with eight true road wins.
• Be the 212th in Head Coach Jerrod Calhoun's career and his 88th at Youngstown State.
• Make Jerrod Calhoun the third coach in school history to record at least 88 wins.
• Be Jerrod Calhoun's eighth win over Milwaukee.

Streak Snapped
Senior Bryce McBride had his consecutive free throws made streak snapped at 37 against Green Bay on Jan. 19. McBride, who ranks second in the nation with a free-throw percentage of 96.5, now ranks second in school history with 37 consecutive free throws made and was just four shy of tying the record of 41 set by Rafael Cruz from March 1, 2001 to Feb.. 2, 2002. McBride's streak ran from Nov. 26, 2022 to Jan. 19, 2023, and the only other free throw he missed this season was at Navy on Nov. 20, 2022.

Most Efficient
As of Jan. 20 Youngstown State led the nation as the highest team offensive efficiency rating, per teamrankings.com. The Penguins ranked first with 1.147 points per possession. Over the last three games, the Penguins offensive efficiency was 1.189 points per possession. Youngstown State was ranked ahead of the likes of Houston, Purdue, and Gonzaga.

Guins Lately
Youngstown State has won five straight and eight of its last nine games. Over the last nine contests, the Penguins are averaging 83.9 points per game while shooting 51.5 percent from the field, 42.4 percent from 3-point range, and 81.2 percent from the free-throw line. Dwayne Cohill is averaging 17.7 points and 5.8 assists per game. Brandon Rush is averaging 17.0 points per game while shooting 55.3 percent from the floor, 48.3 percent from 3-point range, and 91.7 percent from the free-throw line while Malek Green is averaging 14.7 points per game and shooting 58.8 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. 20, the Penguins free-throw percent of 78.9 and 3-point percentage of 40.2 would both set school single-season records. YSU's 85.0 points per game would rank third and 50.1 field-goal percentage would rank second in school history.

Best Horizon League Start
Youngstown State is off to its best start in Horizon League play with its 7-2 league mark. The last time the Penguins were 7-2 in conference play was in 2000-01 when YSU started 8-2 in the Mid-Continent Conference.