Setting the Scene
The Youngstown State men's basketball team (7-4, 2-0 Horizon League) makes the jump back into Horizon League action when it visits Robert Morris, Wednesday, Dec. 17. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the UPMC Events Center. The game will be aired on 570 WKBN and ESPN+.

Up Next
The Penguins return to the friendly confines of Zidian Family Arena to play their final non-league game of 2025 when they host USC Upstate, Saturday, Dec. 20. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m., and the game will be aired on 570 WKBN and ESPN+. 

Last Time Out
Youngstown State remained unbeaten at home and shot better than 56% from the field in both halves en route to a 103-52 victory over Thiel on Dec. 14 inside Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center. Cris Carroll led the Penguins with 17 points in 20 minutes, making four of YSU's 13 3-pointers. Rich Rolf scored eight of Youngstown State's first 13 points and finished with 13 on 6-of-8 shooting from the field, while Vlad Salaridze and Jaiden Haynes finished with 12 points apiece, and Jason Nelson scored 10. Haynes was 5-for-5 from the field overall and 2-for-2 from beyond the arc.

A Win Would...

• Improve YSU's record to 8-4 overall, 3-0 in the Horizon League and mark its sixth straight win.
• Mark the second straight season and third time overall Youngstown State began league play 3-0.
• Be Youngstown State's third road win of the year and its second Horizon League road victory.
• Mark Youngstown State's 17th win over the Colonials, the 10th in Moon Township, Pa., and the sixth at the UPMC Events Center.
• Be Youngstown State's third straight win at the UPMC Event Center.
• Mark Ethan Faulkner's 29th career win and second victory over Robert Morris.

Scouting Robert Morris
Robert Morris enters the game with an overall record of 8-4 and 1-1 in the Horizon League. The Colonials, who are 6-0 at home this season, are coming off a 75-70 win over Toledo on Dec. 13 in Moon Township. Robert Morris defeated at Green Bay, 80-78, on Dec. 4, and lost at Milwaukee, 74-72, on Dec. 6 in league action. Leading the Colonials is DeSean Goode with 13.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. The Colonials are averaging 75.9 points per game and allowing 70.2 points per contest.

Series vs. Robert Morris
This is the 33rd meeting between Youngstown State and Robert Morris in a series dating back to 1989. The all-time series is tied at 16-16 but the Colonials have won the last two contests. Robert Morris defeated the Penguins, 89-78, in the 2025 Horizon League Championship Game on March 11, 2025. Youngstown State owns a record of 9-7 against the Colonials in Moon Township, Pa., and a 5-1 mark at the UPMC Event Center. Youngstown State has won the last two contests against the Colonials at the UPMC Events Center.

IU Indy Recap
Youngstown State picked its first Horizon League road victory with a 78-55 win over IU Indy on Dec. 6. Rich Rolf led the Penguins with 20 points while Cris Carroll poured in 17 points. Imanuel Zorgvol scored 11 points and Bryson Dawkins added 10. YSU shot a season-best 53.6 percent from the floor against the Jaguars.

Wright State Recap
The Penguins won for the third straight time knocking off Horizon League foe Wright State, 69-68, on Dec. 3. Rich Rolf made two free throws with 9.7 seconds left and the Penguins made a last-second defensive stand to preserve the win. Cris Carroll scored  a game-high 19 points while Bryson Dawkins posted 13 points and Rolf added 10.

Turning Up The Defense
During their five-game win streak, the Penguins have been stellar on the defensive end of the court. Youngstown State allowed just 60.0 points per game and their opponents shot a mere 38.7 percent from the field and 23 percent from 3-point range. In league action, the Penguins are allowing just 61.5 points per contest.

Dawkings Production Moving Up
Over the last nine games, senior guard Bryson Dawkins has increased his offensive production. Dawkins averaged 11.7 points per game and shot 51.2 percent (43-for-84) from the field during that span. He also scored in double figures in seven of the last nine games. In the last three games, Dawkins averaged 11.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game and shot 61.3 percent (19-for-31) from the floor.

Going Carroll-ing
Senior Cris Carroll is off to blazing start in 2025-26. Carroll has scored in double figures in all 11 games and is averaging a team-best 15.1 points per contest. He is also shooting an impressive 52.2 percent from the floor and 45.5 percent from 3-point range. Carroll leads the team with 30 3-pointers and ranks third in the league with 2.7 3-pointers made per game. He is also third in the league in 3-point field-goal percentage.

Rolf on a Tear
Junior Rich Rolf has been on a tear over the last five games. During that span, Rolf averaged 14.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game and shot 68.2 percent (30-for-44) from the field and has made 11 of this last 20 3-point attempts. He scored a career-high 22 points on 9-of-14 shooting against Georgia Southern on Nov. 24, and he posted 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting against IU Indy on Dec. 6. He is also averaging 15 points per game in league action.