Youngstown State University
Northern Kentucky
Penguins Look to Bounce Back at Northern Kentucky Thursday Night
1/3/2024 12:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Youngstown State at Northern Kentucky
Jan. 4, 2024 | Truist Arena
Highland Heights, Ky. | 7 p.m.
Broadcast Information
Radio: 570 WKBN (Robb Schmidt) | Listen
TV: ESPN+ | Watch
App Audio - iHeartRadio App
Live Stats
Tipoff Notes
The Youngstown State men's basketball team plays its first road game since Dec. 9 and plays its first game of 2024 when it visits Horizon League foe Northern Kentucky, Thursday, Jan. 4, at Truist Arena Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in Highland Heights, Ky. The game will be broadcast on 570 WKBN and ESPN+.
Up Next
The Penguins begin a three-game homestand Sunday, Jan. 7, against IUPUI. Tipoff is set for 1:30 p.m. at Beeghly Center.
Last Time Out
YSU is coming off an 88-81 loss to Oakland on Dec. 31. Ziggy Reid and Brett Thompson led the Penguins with 16 points each while EJ Farmer scored 14 points. DJ Burns added 10 points.
Scouting Northern Kentucky
Northern Kentucky enters the game with an overall record of 7-7 and a 2-1 mark in Horizon League play. The Norse have lost four of their last six games, including a 73-60 setback at Purdue Fort Wayne on Dec. 29. Marques Warrick leads the Norse with 18.3 points per game, which ranks third in the Horizon League.
Series vs. Northern Kentucky
This is 28th meeting between Youngstown State and Northern Kentucky in a series that dates back to1976. The Norse own a 16-11 advantage in the all-time series and have won 14 of the last 18 contests.
Youngstown State defeated the Norse, 74-56, last season at the Beeghly Center, but have not won in Highland Heights since 2020. The Penguins fell to the Norse in double-overtime, 77-73, the last time the two teams played at Truist Arena on Dec. 1, 2022.
A Win Would...
- Improve YSU's record to 11-4 overall and 3-1 in Horizon League play.
- Mark the third time in the last five years YSU began league play with a 3-1 record.
- Be the first time since 1994-95 the Penguins have started 11-4 after 15 games.
- Give YSU a 4-3 road record.
- Mark YSU's third straight road victory.
- Be YSU's 12th win over NKU.
- Be the first win at NKU since 2020 and just the second in Highland Heights since 1981.
- 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 third win over Northern Kentucky.
Best Starts
With a win over Northern Kentucky, Youngstown State will match program's best Division I start after 15 games with an 11-4 record. It would mark the third time since 1981-82 that YSU started a season 11-4. The other two times were in 1997-98 and 1983-84. . The last time YSU won at least 11 of its first 15 games was in 1994-95.
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 69.4 points per game and lead the lead in field-goal percentage defense (.408), rebounding (40.8 rpg), defensive rebounding (28.6 drpg), blocks (67) and blocks per game (4.87). The Penguins have also just allowed more than 75 points on three occasions this season.
