Setting the Scene
The Youngstown State men's basketball team (8-5, 2-1 Horizon League) moves back into Horizon League action when they host Detroit Mercy, Monday, Dec. 29. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Zidian Family Arena. The game will be aired on 570 WKBN and ESPN+.

Up Next
The Penguins ring in the new year when they close out their three-game homestand against Horizon League for Oakland, Thursday, Jan. 1 at Zidian Family Arena. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. and the game will be aired on 570 WKBN and ESPN+.

Last Time Out
Senior Cris Carroll scored a game-high 27 points to lead the Youngstown State men's basketball team to a 74-65 win over USC Upstate on Saturday afternoon at Zidian Family Arena. Carroll connected on 8-of-16 shooting from the field with three 3-pointers and led the Penguins with seven rebounds and five assists. Vlad Salaridze was the only other YSU player in double figures scoring 14 points off the bench.

A Win Would...

• Improve YSU's record to 9-5 overall, 3-1 in the Horizon League and mark its eighth straight home victory dating back to last season.
• Give YSU a 6-0 home record this season.
• Be Youngstown State's ninth straight victory in the series against Detroit Mercy
• Mark Youngstown State's 13th win over the Titans at Zidian Family Arena.
• Mark Ethan Faulkner's 30th career win and third victory over Detroit Mercy.

Scouting Detroit Mercy
Detroit Mercy enters the game with an overall record of 5-7 and 2-1 in Horizon League action. The Titans, who are 2-6 on the road, are coming off a 91-60 win over Siena Heights on Dec. 20. Leading the Titans is TJ Nadeau with 13.4 points per game while Ayden Carter is averaging 12.2 points per contest. The Titans are averaging 75.8 points per game and allowing 77.7 points per contest.

Series vs. Detroit Mercy
This is the 61st meeting between Youngstown State and Detroit Mercy in a series dating back to 1953. The Titans own a 40-20 advantage in the all-time series, but the Penguins have won the last eight contests. Youngstown State has defeated Detroit Mercy 12 times at Zidian Family Arena, including the last five games. In the last meeting, the Penguins knocked off the Titans, 87-72, on Feb. 8, 2025, in Detroit, Mich. YSU beat UDM, 73-64, on Dec. 29, 2024, at Zidian Family Arena.

Guins Off to Fast HL Start
Several Youngstown State players got off to a hot start in Horizon League play. Senior Cris Carroll ranks second in the league with 22.3 points per game and is shooting 62.9 percent from the floor and 50 percent from 3-point range. Rich Rolf is averaging 12.3 points per game and owns a 56.5 field-goal percentage, while Bryson Dawkins averages 12 points per contest and has a 51.9 field-goal percentage. As a team, the Penguins are shooting 51.6 percent from the floor in league play and averaging 74.7 points per game.

Zorgvol Leads League
Senior Imanuel Zorgvol has been a tremendous rim protector this season. Zorgvol leads the Horizon League with 22 total blocks and 1.7 blocks per game. He has recorded at least one block in 11 of 13 games and multiple blocks seven times. Zorgvol posted four blocks against Grand Canyon (Nov. 7) and USC Upstate (Dec. 20).

Carroll Goes Off for Career High
Senior Cris Carroll turned in the best offensive performance of his YSU tenure with a career-high 31 points against Robert Morris. Carroll connected on 10-for-12 from the field, including a career-best six 3-pointers. His 10 made field-goals were also a career high.

Guins Top Scorers are Efficient
Youngstown State's top four scorers are putting points up at quite an efficient pace. Cris Carroll, Rich Rolf, Bryson Dawkins and Vlad Salaridze are all averaging at least 9.5 points per game and shooting 47 percent or better from the field.
• Carroll - 17.1 ppg | 54.6 FG%
• Rolf - 10.7 ppg | 55.4 FG%
• Dawkins - 9.9 ppg | 47.7 FG%
• Salaridze - 9.5 ppg | 52.5 FG%

Vlad Brings Spark
Vlad Salaridze has been an offensive spark for the Penguins over the last six contests. During that span, Salaridze averaged 10.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game and shot 58.8 percent (20-for-34) from the floor with eight 3-pointers. 

Going Carroll-ing
Senior Cris Carroll is off to blazing start in 2025-26. Carroll has scored in double figures in all 13 games and is averaging a team-best 17.2 points per contest. He is also shooting an impressive 54.6 percent from the floor and 48.8 percent from 3-point range. Carroll leads the team with 39 3-pointers and ranks second in the league with 3.0 3-pointers made per game. He lead the league in 3-point field-goal percentage and ranks second in the league in scoring.

Home Sweet Home
Youngstown State has been quite protective of its home court over the last five-plus seasons. The Penguins have won 43 of the last 54 overall at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center. YSU has won 79 games at home since the start of the 2019-20 season and own a 79-26 mark during that time. Youngstown State is 43-11 at home since the start of the 2022-23 season. The Penguins are 36-9 in their last 45 regular-season home games.