Youngstown State vs. Oakland
Dec. 31, 2023 | Beeghly Center
Youngstown, Ohio | 2:30 p.m.

Broadcast Information
Radio: 570 WKBN (Robb Schmidt/Ron Potesta) | Listen
TV: ESPN+ | Watch
App Audio - iHeartRadio App
Live Stats 

Tipoff Notes
The Youngstown State men's basketball team closes out its four-game homestand and returns to Horizon League play when it hosts Oakland, Sunday Dec. 31, at Beeghly Center. Tipoff is set for 2:30 p.m. in Youngstown, Ohio, as part of a women's and men's basketball doubleheader. The game will be broadcast on 570 WKBN and ESPN+.

Up Next
The Penguins visit Northern Kentucky, Thursday, Jan. 4, at 7 p.m. in Highland Heights, Ky. 

Last Time Out
Youngstown State is coming off its seventh straight win with a 75-65 victory over Navy on Dec. 21. Brandon Rush led the Penguins with 23 points while DJ Burns posted a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Ziggy Reid added 14 points.

Scouting Oakland
Oakland enters the game with an overall record of 6-8 and a 1-2 mark in Horizon League play. The Golden Grizzlies have lost their last three and five of their last six, including a 75-67 loss to Cleveland State on Dec. 28. Trey Townsend leads Oakland with 16.1 points per game.

Series vs. Oakland
This is 34th meeting between Youngstown State and Oakland in a series that dates back to 1999. The Golden Grizzlies own a 21-12 advantage in the all-time series but the Penguins have won the last three contests. YSU defeated Oakland, 77-73, last season at Beeghly Center and 85-69 in Rochester, Mich. The Penguins have also won the last two games played at Beeghly Center, including a 78-71 victory on Feb. 9, 2022. The Golden Grizzlies won the previous four contests.

A Win Would...

• Improve YSU's record to 11-3 overall and 3-0 in Horizon League play.
• Mark just the second time YSU began league play 3-0.
• Be the first time in YSU's D-I history it has started 11-3 and mark the best start after 14 games since 1979-80 (13-1).
• Mark YSU's eighth straight win and give the Penguins a 8-0 home record.
• Set the YSU Division I record for consecutive wins with eight.
• Mark the first time since 1979-80 YSU has won eight straight games.
• Be YSU's 13th win over Oakland and the fourth straight victory over the Golden Grizzlies.
• Be the 231st in Head Coach Jerrod Calhoun's career and his 107th at Youngstown State.
• Make Jerrod Calhoun the third coach in school history to record at least 107 wins.
• Be Jerrod Calhoun's seventh win over Oakland.

Best Starts
With its win over the U.S. Naval Academy, Youngstown State matched the program's best Division I start after 13 games with a 10-3 record.  It marked the third time since 1981-82, YSU started a season 10-3. The other two times were in 1997-98 and 1983-84. With a win over Oakland, the Penguins would set a D-I best record after 14 games of 11-3. The last time YSU won at least 11 of its first 14 games was in 1979-80 when it went 13-1.

Going streaking
With a win over Oakland, Youngstown State will set the program's longest Division I winning streak at eight games. The last time the Penguins won at least eight straight games was in 1979-80. 

On the Defense
Youngstown State has been ramping things up on the defensive end of the court this season. The Penguins rank third in the Horizon League in scoring defense at 67.9 points per game and lead the lead in field-goal percentage defense (.398), rebounding (42.1 rpg), defensive rebounding (29.5 drpg), blocks (64) and blocks per game (4.92). The Penguins have also just allowed more than 75 points on two occasions this season.

Block Party
Youngstown State has been protecting the rim the season. The Penguins lead the Horizon League with 64 blocks and 4.92 blocks per game. Freshman Gabe Dynes ranks second in the league with 24 blocks and 1.8 blocks per game. Against Navy, the Penguins record 10 blocks. It marked the first time in more than 10 years the Penguins had at least 10 blocks in a game. The last time YSU had 10 blocks in a game was against Westminster on Nov. 23, 2013. 

Home Sweet Home
Youngstown State has been quite protective of its home court over the last four-plus seasons. The Penguins, who have won 15 straight regular-season home games and 17 of the last 19 overall, have won 57 games at Beeghly Center since the start of the 2019-20 season and own a 57-18 mark during that time. 

Penguin Portal Success
Over the last two-plus seasons, Youngstown State has flourished during the transfer portal era. The Penguins own a record of 53-28 over the past two-plus campaigns, and produced five all-conference selections. Youngstown State has been tough to beat at home over the last two-plus years posting a 34-10 mark.