Youngstown State vs.Navy
Dec. 21, 2023 | Beeghly Center
Youngstown, Ohio | 2 p.m.

Broadcast Information
Radio: 1390 WNIO (Robb Schmidt) | Listen
TV: ESPN+ | Watch
App Audio - iHeartRadio App
Live Stats 

Tipoff Notes
The Youngstown State men's basketball team closes out the non-conference portion of its slate when it host the United State Naval Academy, Thursday Dec. 21, at Beeghly Center. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. in Youngstown, Ohio, as part of a women's and men's basketball doubleheader. The game will be broadcast on 1390 WNIO and ESPN+.

Up Next
The Penguins close out their four-game homestand and re-enter Horizon League play when it hosts Oakland, Sunday, Dec. 31. Tipoff is set for 2:30 p.m. at Beeghly Center.  

Last Time Out
Youngstown State is coming off its sixth straight win after a 117-45 win over Westminster on Dec. 18. Six different players scored in double figures in the Penguins' 117-45 win over Westminster on Dec. 18. EJ Farmer scored a career-high 20 points while Jaylen Bates posted a season-high 19 points. DJ Burns recorded his sixth double-double of the year with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Imanuel Zorgvol collected his first career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Brett Thompson had 13 points and a career-high 10 assists while Brandon Rush added 13 points.

Scouting Navy
Navy enters the game with an overall record of 3-6 and is coming off a 91-33 win over Washington College on Dec. 17. The Midshipmen also have victories over VMI (67-47) on Nov. 29 and Coppin State (75-52) on Dec. 3.  Austin Benigni leads the Mids with 12.7 points per game.

Series vs. Navy
This is just the second meeting between Youngstown State and the U.S. Naval Academy. The Midshipmen and Penguins met last season and Navy won, 80-67, in Annapolis, Md., on Nov. 20, 2022.

A Win Would...

• Improve YSU's record to 10-3 overall.
• Be the third time since 1981-82 YSU has started 10-3.
• Mark YSU's seventh straight win and give the Penguins a 7-0 home record.
• Tie the YSU Division I record for consecutive wins with seven.
• Mark the first time since 1997-98 YSU has won seven straight games.
• Be YSU's first win over Navy.
• Be the 230th in Head Coach Jerrod Calhoun's career and his 106th at Youngstown State.
• Make Jerrod Calhoun the third coach in school history to record at least 165 wins.
• Be Jerrod Calhoun's first win over Navy.

Best Starts
With a win over the U.S. Naval Academy, Youngstown State can match the program's best Division I start after 13 games with a 10-3 record.  This would be the third time since 1981-82, YSU started a season 10-3. The other two times were in 1997-98 and 1983-84. 

Thompson Turnin Up
Youngstown State fifth-year senior Brett Thompson has turned up his offensive production since being inserted into the starting lineup seven games ago. Since that time, Youngstown State owns a record of 6-1. Over the last seven games, Thompson averaged 13.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.6 assists game. He shot 51.5 percent from the floor. Thompson also leads the Horizon League with 2.5 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Glass Cleaners
During the their six-game winning streak, the Penguins have been formidable on the glass. Youngstown State has recorded at least 41 rebounds in each game and has averaged 46.7 rebounds per game during that span. Youngstown State leads the Horizon League with 512 total rebounds and 42.7 rebounds per game. The Penguins also rank 17th nationally in rebounds per game.