Setting the Scene
The Youngstown State men's basketball team plays its 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+. 

Up Next
The Penguins take a break for finals and return to host Thiel, Sunday, Dec. 14. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at Zidian Family Arena. The game will be aired on 570 WKBN and ESPN+.  

Last time Out
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.

A Win Would...
Improve YSU's record to 6-4 overall and 2-0 in the Horizon League.
Mark the third straight season YSU opened league play with a 2-0 record.
Be Youngstown State's second road victory of the year and improve its away record to 2-3.
Mark Youngstown State's 23rd win over the Jaguars.
Be Youngstown State's 11th straight win over the Jaguars in Indianapolis.
Mark Ethan Faulkner's 27th career win and second victory over IU Indy.

Scouting IU Indy
IU Indy enters the game with an overall record of 3-7 and a 0-1 Horizon League mark. The Jaguars are coming off a 92-78 league loss to Detroit Mercy on Dec. 3. Kyler D'Augustino leads the Jaguars with 15.9 points per game while Matt Compas is averaging 13.3 points per contest. As a team, the Jaguars are averaging 90.2 points per game but allow 95.8 points per contest.

Series vs. IU Indy
This is the 26th meeting between Youngstown State and IU Indy in a series dating back to 1975. Youngstown State owns a 22-3 advantage in the all-time series, but the Jaguars won the last meeting, 84-79, at Zidian Family Arena on Feb. 1, 2025. The Penguins have own a 10-0 record against IU Indy in games played in Indianapolis. YSU is 4-0 against the Jaguars in games played at The Jungle and 6-0 in games played at Corteva Coliseum.

Dawkins Increasing Production
Over the last seven games, senior guard Bryson Dawkins has increased his offensive production. Dawkins averaged 12.3 points per game and shot 52.2 percent (36-for-69) from the field during that span. He also scored in double figures in six of the last seven games. In the last two games, Dawkins averaged 14 points and 4.0 rebounds per game and shot 66.7 percent (12-for-16) 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 nine games and is averaging a team-best 14.7 points per contest. He is also shooting an impressive 50.0 percent from the floor and 43.6 percent from 3-point range. Carroll leads the team with 24 3-pointers and 2.7 3-pointers made per game.  

Rolf Turns it Up
Junior Rich Rolf posted five career highs in the Penguins 67-61 win over Georgia Southern on Nov. 24. 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 three games, Rolf averaged 13.3 points and 4.3 rebounds per game and shot 62.5 percent (15-for-24) from the field and has made eight of this last 14 3-point attempts.