Youngstown State vs. Robert Morris
Feb. 14, 2024 | Beeghly Center
Youngstown, Ohio | 6:30 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 (18-8 10-5 HL) closes out its three-game homestand when it hosts Robert Morris (10-15, 6-8 HL), Wednesday, Feb. 14. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Beeghly Center in Youngstown, Ohio. The game will be broadcast on 570 WKBN and ESPN+.

Up Next
The Penguins visit in-state rival Cleveland State, Saturday, Feb. 17. Tipoff is slated for 3 p.m. at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio. 

Last Time Out
Youngstown State is coming off an 84-83 loss to Green Bay on Feb. 10 at Beeghly Center. DJ Burns posted a double-double with a season-high 32 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Penguins. Brett Thompson had 23 points, EJ Farmer posted 11 and Ziggy Reid had 10 points.

Scouting Robert Morris
Robert Morris enters the game with an overall record of 10-15 and a 6-8 mark in the Horizon League. The Colonials, who have won two of their last three, are led by Markeese Hasting with 15.8 points per game and Josh Corbin with 13.4 points per contest. Robert Morris carries a 3-9 road record and a 2-5 Horizon League road record. 
As a team, the Colonials are averaging 75 points per game.

Series vs. Robert Morris
This is the 29th meeting between Youngstown State and Robert Morris in a series that dates back to 1989.  The all-time series is tied at 14-14, but the Penguins have won six of the last nine contests.  In the last meeting, Youngstown State defeated the Colonials, 71-57, at the UPMC Events Center on Dec. 2, 2023. 

A Win Would...

• Improve YSU's record to 19-8 overall and 11-5 in Horizon League play.
• Mark the third straight season with at least 11 conference wins - longest streak in program history.
• Mark the first time since 1969-72 that YSU has won at least 19 games in three straight seasons.
• Be the sixth time since 1981-82 YSU recorded at least 19 wins.
• Give YSU a 13-2 home record.
• Be YSU's 15th win over Robert Morris and the second straight.
• Be the 239th in Head Coach Jerrod Calhoun's career and his 115th at Youngstown State.
• Make Jerrod Calhoun the third coach in school history to record at least 115 wins.
• Be Jerrod Calhoun's seventh win over Robert Morris.

Dynes Climbing Charts
Freshman Gabe Dynes has been a tremendous rim protector this season for the Penguins. Dynes, who set a career-high with seven blocks against Milwaukee on Feb. 8, broke the YSU freshman blocks record of 39 after collecting three at Oakland on Jan. 17. He now has 50 blocks on the year. He is also the first player to collect at least seven blocks in a game since Damian Eargle in 2012. Dynes currently ranks sixth on the YSU single-season blocks list and just became the third player in school history with at least 50 blocks in a year. He leads the Horizon League in total blocks and 2.4 blocks per game overall. Dynes ranks 10th nationally in blocks per game. He is also averaging 3.3 blocks per game in league play.

Charitable Giving
Youngstown State has been quite successful this season from the charity stripe. As a team, the Penguins are shooting 77.9 percent from the free-throw line. That percentage currently ranks tied as the highest-in program history. The school mark is 77.9 percent, which was set last season. Seven players are shooting above 73 percent on the year and four are connecting above 80 percent. 
 
Plus 25 Margin of Victory
For the first time in program history, Youngstown State posted three consecutive margins of victory of at least 25 points in conference play. Over that span, the Penguins defeated Detroit Mercy by 41 (105-64), IUPUI by 28 (78-50), and Northern Kentucky by 30 (82-52).

Double-Double DJ
DJ Burns has been a force on the boards and in the scoring column for the Penguins. He leads the Horizon League with 263 total rebounds and 10.1 rebounds per game. Burns has also posted 16 double-double on the year and has a double-double in eight straight games. In league play, Burns is averaging a double-double of 13.7 points and 10.9 rebounds per game.