Youngstown State vs. Detroit Mercy
Feb. 28, 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 (21-9, 13-6 HL) plays its regular-season finale when it hosts Detroit Mercy, Wednesday, Feb. 28. 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 are idle on March 2 and will participate in the 2024 Barbasol Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship that runs March 5, 7, 11-12. With a win over the Titans, the Penguins will have secured a top-four seed in the championship and will host a quarterfinal game on March 7.
Last Time Out
Youngstown State is coming off its second straight league road victory with a 71-59 win at Green Bay on Feb. 25. Five players scored in double figures led by Ziggy Reid and Brett Thompson with 16 points each. Brandon Rush scored 13 points while DJ Burns posted his 20th double-double of the season with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Bryson Langdon also added 10 points.
Scouting Detroit Mercy
Detroit Mercy enters the game with an overall record of 1-28 and a 1-17 Horizon League mark. The Titans are led by Jayden Stone with 21.1 points per game. As a team, the Titans are averaging 65.8 points per contest while allowing 80.7 points per game.
Series vs. Detroit Mercy
This is the 58th meeting between Youngstown State and Detroit Mercy in a series that dates back to 1953. The Titans own a 40-17 advantage in the all-time series, but the Penguins have won the last five contests and eight of the last 10. In the last meeting, Youngstown State defeated the Titans, 105-64, on Jan. 20, 2024 in Detroit. It marked YSU's largest margin of victory against a Horizon League opponent. Ten of Youngstown State's 17 wins against Detroit Mercy have come in Beeghly Center.
A Win Would...
- Improve YSU's record to 22-9 overall and 14-6 in Horizon League play.
- Mark the second straight season with at least 14 conference wins.
- Mark the first time in program history YSU had at least 14 conference wins in consecutive seasons.
- Mark the second straight season YSU clinched a top-four seed in the Horizon League Tournament.
- Mark the first time since 1956-58 that YSU has won at least 22 games in consecutive seasons.
- Be the second straight year and the second time since 1981-82 YSU recorded at least 22 wins.
- Give YSU an 14-2 home record.
- Be YSU's 18th win over Detroit Mercy.
- Be the 242nd in Head Coach Jerrod Calhoun's career and his 118th at Youngstown State.
- Make Jerrod Calhoun the third coach in school history to record at least 118 wins.
- Be Jerrod Calhoun's ninth win over Detroit Mercy.
Double Century
Seniors Brett Thompson and Bryson Langdon have both eclipsed the 100 assist plateau this season. Thompson leads the Penguins with 123 assists while Langdon has 110. It marks the second straight season a pair of Penguins were credited with at least 100 assists. It is also just the fourth time since joining the Horizon League that two players posted at least 100 assists in the same season.
Rush Now Tied for 10th
With his three 3-pointers made against Green Bay on Sunday, senior Brandon Rush has moved into a tie for 10th on the YSU career 3-point chart. He has 143 made 3-pointers and needs seven more to become the ninth player in school history to make 150 career 3-pointers.
400/300 Club
Senior DJ Burns is on the cusp of joining an exclusive club at Youngstown State. Burns has 391 points and 316 rebounds this season. He needs just nine more points to become the second player in YSU's Division I history to record 400 points and 300 rebounds in the same season. The first was Adrian Nelson, who accomplished the feat in 2022-23.
Back-to Back 21 Win-Seasons
With its win over Green Bay, the Youngstown State won at least 21 games in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1956-57 and 1957-58. . It will also mark just the second 21-campaign since 1981-82 when the Penguins joined the NCAA Division I.
DJ Breaking Records
DJ Burns has been a force on the boards and in the scoring column for the Penguins all season. Burns posted his 17th double-double of the season with 24 points and 17 rebounds to set the Youngstown State single-season double-doubles mark against Robert Morris on Feb. 14. He now has 20 and has posted a double-double in 12 straight games. The old record of 16 was set by Jerome Sims in 1991-92.
YSU Double-Double List
1. DJ Burns (2023-24) 20
2. Jerome Sims (1991-92) 16
3. Shane Johnson (1988-89) 14
4. Adrian Nelson (2022-23) 13
5. Quin Humphrey (2005-06) 11
5. Tim Jackson (1990-91) 11
5. Tim Jackson (1989-90) 11
Home Sweet Home
Youngstown State has been quite protective of its home court over the last four-plus seasons. The Penguins had won 15 straight regular-season home games and have won 23 of the last 27 overall. YSU has won 63 games at Beeghly Center since the start of the 2019-20 season and own a 63-20 mark during that time. Youngstown State is 26-5 at Beeghly Center since the start of the 2022-23 season. The Penguins are 21-2 in their last 23 regular-season home games.
Penguin Portal Success
Over the last two-plus seasons, Youngstown State has flourished during the transfer portal era. The Penguins own a record of 64-34 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 40-12 mark.
Culture change
One of the main goals Head Coach Jerrod Calhoun had for the Youngstown State was to improve the culture. Just once in program history had the Penguins had three straight winning seasons (1982-83 to 1984-85). Last season, Calhoun set a YSU Division I mark of four consecutive winning seasons for the first time in program history. Over the last four-plus years, Youngstown State has posted an 97-61 overall record.
