Setting the Scene
The Youngstown State men's basketball team, which plays six of the next eight games at home, opens Horizon League action when it hosts Wright State, Wednesday, Dec. 3. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center. The game will be aired on 570 WKBN and ESPN+. 

Up Next
The Penguins play their first Horizon League road game when they visit IU Indy, Saturday, Dec. 6 Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at The Jungle in Indianapolis, Ind. The game will be aired on 570 WKBN and ESPN+. 

Last Time Out
The Penguins won for the second straight game with an 87-64 win over Chicago State on Nov. 28. The Penguins made 17 3-pointers and shot 50.8 percent from the field in the victory. Cris Carroll and Bryson Dawkins led the Penguins in scoring with 15 points apiece, with Carroll's points all coming from the 3-point line on a career-best five 3s. Vlad Salaridze added 13 points off the bench.

A Win Would...

• Improve YSU's record to 5-4 overall and 1-0 in the Horizon League.
• Mark the third straight season YSU opened league play with a victory.
• Be Youngstown State's third home win of the season and improve its home record to 3-0.
• Be Youngstown State's seventh straight win over Wright State and the sixth straight over the Raiders at Zidian Family Arena.
• Mark the Penguins' 22nd win over the Raiders and the 15th at Zidian Family Arena.
• Mark Ethan Faulkner's 26th career win and third victory over Wright State.

Scouting Wright State
Wright State enters the game with an overall record of 4-4 and is coming off a 94-69 loss to Butler on Nov. 28. Michael Cooper leads the Raiders with 14.4 points per game. Michael Imariagbe is averaging 10.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per contest. As a team, the Raiders are averaging 79.5 points per game and allowing just 66.6 points per contest.

Series vs. Wright State
This is the 72nd meeting between Youngstown State and Wright State in a series dating back to 1977.  The Raiders own a 50-21 advantage in the all-time series, but  the Penguins have won the last six contests.  Last season, Youngstown State defeated Wright State, 88-86, on Jan. 30, 2025, at Zidian Family Arena.  Youngstown State has won the last five games against the Raiders at Zidian Family Arena. The Penguins have also won 14 times against the Raiders at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center.

Home Sweet Home
Youngstown State has been quite protective of its home court over the last five-plus seasons. The Penguins have won 35 of the last 46 overall at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center. YSU has won 77 games at home since the start of the 2019-20 season and own a 77-26 mark during that time. Youngstown State is 40-11 at home since the start of the 2022-23 season. The Penguins are 33-9 in their last 42 regular-season home games.

Polak Gets 200 3s
Sixth-year guard Cam Polak just reach a huge career accomplishment. With three 3-pointers against Chicago State, Polak reached 200 career 3-pointers made. He has 15 3-pointers this season and is shooting 38.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Rolf Turns in Career Day
Junior Rich Rolf posted five career highs in the Penguins 67-61 win over Georgia Southern. He connected on 9-of-14 from the field with four three points and grabbed six rebounds. He set career highs in points scored, nine made field goals, 14 attempts, four made 3-pointers, and eight 3-point attempts. Over the last four games, Rolf averaged 12.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game and shot 55.9 percent (19-for-34) from the field.

Going Carroll-ing
Senior Cris Carroll is off to blazing start in 2025-26. Carroll has scored in double figures in all eight games and is averaging a team-best 14.1 points per contest. He is also shooting an impressive 50.6 percent from the floor and 45.8 percent from 3-point range. Carroll leads the team with 22 3-pointers and 2.8 3-pointers made per game. He also ranks second in the Horizon League in 3-point percentage.

Dawkins Increasing Production
Over the last six games, senior guard Bryson Dawkins has increased his offensive production. Dawkins averaged 12.2 points per game and shot 50 percent (30-for-60) from the field during that span. He also scored in double figures in five of the last six games.