Setting the Scene
The Youngstown State men's basketball team opens its 96th season of competition when it visits ACC member Pittsburgh, Monday, Nov. 3. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Petersen Events Center, and the game will be aired on 570 WKBN and the ACC Network Extra.

Guins in Season Openers
Youngstown State is 45-50 in season openers dating back to the program's inaugural season in 1927-28. The Penguins defeated Chicago State, 80-60, in last year's season-opener on Nov. 9, 2024.

Up Next
Youngstown State heads to the cactus state to take on Grand Canyon for the first time in program history on Friday, Nov. 7. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. ET at Global Credit Union Arena in Phoenix, Ariz.

Last Time Out
Youngstown State erased a nine-point halftime deficit and outscored Akron in the second half by 15 en route to an 84-78 victory over the Zips in an exhibition game on Oct. 29 at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center. Junior Tae Blackshear led the Penguins with 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field with four 3-pointers while Bryson Dawkins scored 16 points and Imanuel Zorgvol posted 13 points.

A Win Would...

• Improve YSU's record to 1-0.
• Mark Youngstown State's 46th season-opening win
• Be Youngstown State's second victory over Pitt and the first since 1976. 
• Mark Ethan Faulkner's 22nd career win and first win over Pittsburgh.
• Mark Youngstown State's first win over an opponent from the Atlantic Coast Conference. 

Scouting Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh won a pair of exhibition games over Providence, 81-74, on Oct. 19 and Pitt-Johnstown, 100-65, on Oct. 27. The Panthers return six letterwinners and one starter from last year's team that went 17-15. Cameron Corhen led the Panthers in scoring averaging 15.5 points per game in the two preseason games.

Series vs. Pitt
This is the 10th meeting between Youngstown State and Pittsburgh in a series that dates back to 1972. The Panthers own an 8-1 advantage in the all-time series and have won the last five contests. Pittsburgh defeated the Penguins, 69-53, in the most recent game on Nov. 6, 2018. The last time Youngstown State defeated Pittsburgh was a 78-73 victory on Dec. 21, 1976, at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center. Youngstown State is 0-9 all-time against members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Last season, the Penguins dropped a 104-95 double overtime decision at Syracuse on Nov. 16, 2024.

Guins Seek Fourth Straight 20-Win Campaign
Youngstown State is coming off its third straight 20-win season after going 21-13 in 2024-25. It marked the first time in program history that the Penguins posted 20-win campaigns in three straight seasons. Youngstown State posted a 22-10 mark in 2023-24. YSU went 24-10 in 2022-23 and won the first regular-season conference championship in program history.

Penguins Picked Third
Youngstown State was predicted to finish third in the 2025-26 Under Armour Horizon League preseason poll after a vote of the league's head coaches, athletic communications directors, and select media. Youngstown State received 364 total points, including two first-place votes, and ranks behind preseason favorite Milwaukee (428 points, 24) and Oakland, (384, 7). Robert Morris, Purdue Fort Wayne and Northern Kentucky are predicted fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively, while Wright State was voted seventh and Cleveland State was slotted eighth. Detroit Mercy, IU Indy and Green Bay round out places nine, 10 and 11, respectively.

Carroll Named Preseason All-HL First Team
Senior Cris Carroll was voted to the Preseason All-Horizon League First-Team after averaging 9.2 points and 5.0 rebounds per game last season. In league action, he averaged 9.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He scored in double figures 16 times, recorded three double-doubles, and posted three 20-point games.