Setting the Scene
The Youngstown State men's basketball team goes for its second straight Horizon League win when it hosts Oakland Saturday, Dec. 7. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center. The game will be broadcast on 570 WKBN and ESPN+.

Up Next
Youngstown State plays its final non-league home game when it hosts Toledo Saturday, Dec. 14. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m. at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center.

Last Time Out
Youngstown State picked up its first Horizon League win of the year after a 72-58 victory over Robert Morris on Dec. 4. Juwan Maxey scored a career-high 16 points and made five 3-pointers to lead the Penguins to the road win.

Scouting Oakland
Oakland enters the game with an overall record of 3-4 and a league mark of 1-0. The Golden Grizzlies are coming off a 66-64 win over Wright State on Dec. 5. Allen Mukeba leads Oakland with 13 points per game while Buru Naivalurua and DQ Cole are averaging 12.7 and 11.1 points per game, respectively. The Golden Grizzlies are averaging 63.4 points per game while allowing 66.7 points per contest.

Series vs. Oakland
This is the 36th meeting between Youngstown State and Oakland in a series dating back to 1999. Oakland owns a 23-12 advantage in the all-time series and has won the last two contests. Last season, the Golden Grizzlies defeated the Penguins, 88-81, in Youngstown and 70-67 in Rochester, Mich. Youngstown State won the three previous games against Oakland. The Penguins own an 8-7 mark against the Golden Grizzlies in games played at Zidian Family Arena.

A Win Would...

• Improve YSU's record to 5-5 overall and 2-0 in Horizon League play.
• Mark Ethan Faulkner's fifth career win and second in league action.
• Mark Youngstown State's first win over Oakland since 2023.
• Be Youngstown State's ninth win over Oakland at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center.
• Mark Ethan Faulkner's first win over Oakland.
• Give the Penguins a 2-1 home record. 

To The Max
Junior Juwan Maxey turned in his best offensive performances of year in the last three games for the Penguins. He scored a career-high 16 points with a career-best five 3-pointers in YSU's 72-58 win over Robert Morris on Dec. 4. Maxey scored 12 points and made four 3-pointers and dished out a career-best seven assists. He added 10 points with another seven assists against Bethany. He leads the Penguins with 27 assists and 13 3-pointers made on the season.

Faulkner Era
Ethan Faulkner is in his first season as Head Coach of the Youngstown State men's basketball program after serving as the associate head coach for two years and three seasons as an assistant coach. During Faulkner's time at YSU, the Penguins have won a total of 102 games.

Galette Approaching 1,500 Career Points
Fifth-year senior Nico Galette has scored 1,473 points during his career and needs just 27 to reach the 1,500-point milestone. Last season, Galette scored 420 points, averaged 13.5 points per game and was named All-NEC Second Team. In 2022-23, he poured in 507 points for a 15.4 points per game average and earned first-team all-conference honors.

Farmer Hits Career High
Senior EJ Farmer turned in a career day in the Penguins' loss to Syracuse on Nov. 16. Farmer scored a career-high 26 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the field and 8-of-10 shooting from the free-throw line. The nine field goals made, and eight charity tosses made were also career bests.

Home Sweet Home
Youngstown State has been quite protective of its home court over the last five seasons. The Penguins have won 24 of the last 30 overall at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center. YSU has won 66 games at home since the start of the 2019-20 season and own a 66-21 mark during that time. Youngstown State is 29-6 at home since the start of the 2022-23 season. The Penguins are 23-4 in their last 27 regular-season home games.