Setting the Scene
The No. 4 seeded Youngstown State men's basketball team (21-12) takes on No. 1 Robert Morris (25-8) in the 2025 Barbasol Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship Game, Tuesday, March 11. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Corteva Coliseum and the game will be televised on ESPN and aired 570 WKBN.
Up Next
With a win, Youngstown State will advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.
A Win Would...
- Improve YSU's record to 22-12 overall.
- Mark the third straight season Youngstown State won at least 22 games.
- Mark Youngstown State's first Horizon League Championship and the first berth to the NCAA Tournament.
- Mark the Penguins' 19th overall conference tournament win and the 12th in the Horizon League.
- Be the Penguins 68th overall victory over the last three seasons.
- Mark Ethan Faulkner's 22nd career win and second over Robert Morris.
- Mark Youngstown State's 17th win over Robert Morris and the first in the postseason.
Series vs. Robert Morris
This is the 32nd meeting between Youngstown State and Robert Morris in a series dating back to 1989. The Penguins own a slim 16-15 advantage in the all-time series and have won the three of the last four contests. The Penguins and Colonials split the season series with each winning on the others home court. Youngstown State defeated the Colonials, 72-58, in Moon Township, Pa., on Dec. 4, 2024. Robert Morris knocked off Youngstown State, 72-70, at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center on Jan. 22. This is the first time the Penguins and Colonials will meet in the postseason and on a neutral site.
Last Time Out
Youngstown State is headed to the finals of the 2025 Barbasol Horizon League Championship after defeating Cleveland State 56-54 in the semifinals on March 10. Youngstown State trailed 54-52 when Ty Harper hit a corner 3-pointer with 43 seconds left, and he made his ensuing free throw to complete a four-point play. The Penguins, who played outstanding defense all night, forced three more missed shots and came up with a turnover as time expired at Corteva Coliseum in Indianapolis sending the YSU faithful into a frenzy. Siem Uijtendaal led the Penguins with 13 points, while Harper and Nico Galette both had nine in a hard-fought semifinal contest.
Against Purdue Fort Wayne in Quarterfinals
Nico Galette and Ty Harper caught fire in the second half to lead Youngstown State to a 72-67 victory over Purdue Fort Wayne on March 6 in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Barbasol Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship. Galette finished with a game-high 22 points while grabbing 10 rebounds for his eighth double-double, and Harper scored 20 points. They combined to make five 3-pointers in the second half to give YSU a big boost after the Penguins went 0-for-15 from long distance in a low-scoring first half. Junior Cris Carroll recorded his third double-double of the season with 11 points and tied a career high with 12 boards.
Guins in the Tourney
Youngstown State has an overall conference tournament record of 18-35 dating back to 1983-84. The Penguins own a Horizon League tournament record (2001-02 to present) of 11-23, 4-7 in the Mid-Continent Conference (1994-95 to 2000-01) and 3-5 in the Ohio Valley Conference (1983-84 to 1987-88). The Penguins own a record of 3-7 in the Horizon League quarterfinals. The Penguins are 4-4 in conference tournament semifinals and 1-2 in Horizon League semifinals. Youngstown State is 0-3 in conference tournament championships.
Guins Conference Championship Games
OVC: 1984 – L, Morehead State 47, Youngstown State 44
OVC: 1985 – L, Middle Tennessee State 66, Youngstown State 63
Mid-Con: 1998 – L, Valparaiso 67, Youngstown State 48
Dynes Nearning Century Mark
Sophomore Gabe Dynes is approaching a rare feat not only in Youngstown State history, but in Horizon League history as well. Dynes has 98 blocks this season and is two shy of reaching 100. He would become just the third player in YSU history to record 100 blocks in a season and the fifth league history.
Galette Averaging Double-Double
Senior Nico Galette has been a force in the 2025 Barbasol Horizon League Championship. Galette is averaging a double-double with 15.5 points and 11 rebounds per game. He poured in 22 points with 10 rebounds in the quarterfinals against Purdue Fort Wayne, and he had 12 boards and nine points against Cleveland State in the semifinals
200 3s Streak
The Penguins have made 288 3-pointers this season and extends their streak of at least 200 made 3-pointers streak to 14 straight full seasons. The streak dates back to the 2010-11 season and does not include the COVID-19 shortened 2020-21 campaign. The 288 made 3s rank third on the YSU single-season list. The Penguins need 15 more to break the single-season record of 303.
Dynes Collects 150 Career Blocks
With five blocks against Milwaukee, sophomore Gabe Dynes became the third player in program history to record 150 blocks in a career. He now has 159. Dynes also moved into fourth place on the YSU single-season blocks list with 98. He needs two more to become the third player in school history to block 100 shots in a season. The last to do so was Damian Eargle with 102 in 2012-13.
Maxey Moving Up Chart
Junior Juwan Maxey leads the Penguins and ranks tied for sixth in the Horizon League with 70 3-pointers. He is also tied for seventh in the league with 2.2 3-pointers made per game. Maxey now ranks 10th on the single-season list and need four more to move into ninth. The last player to make at least 70 3s in a season was Brandon Rush, who made 74 in 2023-24.
