Setting the Scene
The Youngstown State men's basketball team closes out its four-game homestand against IU Indy, Saturday, Feb. 1. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center., and the game will be broadcast on 570 WKBN and ESPN+.

Honoring Jeff Covington
The Youngstown State University athletics department and men's basketball program will be honoring one of its all-time greats during the men's basketball game against IU-Indy on Saturday. Jeff Covington, Youngstown State's all-time leading scorer, was inducted into the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame on Nov. 1, 2024. Covington, who played at Youngstown State from 1974-78, was the 1978 Basketball Weekly College Division Player of the Year and a three-time NABC Division II All-American. He garnered third-team honors in 1976; first-team laurels in 1977; and was a second-team selection in 1978. Covington was also a 1977 Associate Press Little All-American Second-Team pick. He is YSU's all-time leading scorer with 2,424 career points and ranks second in with 1,381 career rebounds. Covington is also a member of the Youngstown State Athletic Hall of Fame.

Up Next
Youngstown State hits the road for a pair of league games in Michigan beginning with a showdown against Oakland, Thursday, Feb. 6. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in Rochester, Mich. 

Last Time Out
Juwan Maxey hit a 3-pointer in the right corner with three seconds remaining to finish Youngstown State's men's basketball team's comeback from an 18-point deficit and give the Penguins an 88-86 victory over Wright State on Thursday evening. EJ Farmer led the Penguins with 23 points while Ty Harper had 17. Maxey and Nico Galette each scored 15 points while Cris Carroll added 10. 

Series vs. IU Indy
This is the 25th meeting between Youngstown State and IU-Indy in a series dating back to 1975. The Penguins own a 22-2 advantage in the all-time series and have won the last eight contests. Last season, the Penguins swept the season series with 75-65 win in Youngstown and a 78-50 victory in Indianapolis. The last time the Jaguars defeated the Penguins was a 72-70 win in Youngstown in 2021.  

Last Time Against IU Indy
Youngstown State jumped out to an early lead, staved off an IU-Indy mid-game run, and surged to a 77-61 victory on Jan. 1 at Corteva Coliseum at the Fairgrounds. Senior EJ Farmer tied a career high with 26 points and tied a career best with five 3-pointers while making 11-of-12 from the free-throw line. Senior Siem Uijtendaal scored a season-high 14 points and made a season-best four 3s.

Scouting IU Indy
IU Indy enters the game with an overall record of 7-16 and a 3-9 Horizon League mark. The Jaguars are coming off a 106-53 loss to Robert Morris on Jan. 30 and havelost their last two games. Leading the Jaguars is Paul Zilinskas with 17.1 points per game and Jarvis Walker with 15.4 points per contest. The Jaguars are averaging 74.2 points per game while allowing 74.6 points per contest.

A Win Would...

• Improve YSU's record to 15-9 overall and 9-4 in the Horizon League.
• Mark the sixth time in program history the Penguins began conference play 9-4 or better after 13 games.
• Mark Ethan Faulkner's 15th career win and second over IU Indy.
• Mark Youngstown State's ninth straight win over the Jaguars and the 16th in the last 17 games.
• Be the fifth straight win over IU Indy at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center.
• Give the Penguins a 8-3 home record overall and a 5-2 Horizon League home record. 

Cardiac Guins
Four times this season and the three times in Horizon League play Youngstown State has rallied from double-digit deficits and came out with a victory. Most recently, the Penguins trailed Wright State by as many as 18 points and 17 with 12 minutes left in the game and pulled out an 88-86 last second win. YSU trailed Green Bay by 11 on Jan. 19 and won, 73-69; Wright State by 12 on Dec. 18 and won 80-70; and Monmouth by 14  on Nov. 21 and won 72-62.

Home Sweet Home
Youngstown State has been quite protective of its home court over the last five seasons. The Penguins have won 30 of the last 39 overall at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center. YSU has won 72 games at home since the start of the 2019-20 season and own a 72-24 mark during that time. Youngstown State is 35-9 at home since the start of the 2022-23 season. The Penguins are 29-7 in their last 36 regular-season home games.

Guins in the HL
Youngstown State has been on quite a run during league play over the last three-plus seasons. The Penguins own a record of 49-24 in Horizon League play since the start of the 2021-22 campaign. Youngstown State went 12-9 in 2021-22, 15-5 in 2022-23, 14-6 in 2023-24, and is currently 8-4 in 2024-25.