Setting the Scene
The Youngstown State men's basketball team (9-9, 2-5 Horizon League) is back on the road for two in-state Horizon League contests beginning with matchup against league-leading Wright State, Thursday, Jan. 15.  Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Nutter Center in Dayton, Ohio, and the game will be aired on 570 WKBN and ESPN+.

Up Next
Youngstown State stays on the road to take on in-state and league foe Cleveland State, Saturday, Jan. 17, in Cleveland, Ohio. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. at the Wolstein Center and the game will be aired on 570 WKBN and ESPN+.

Last Time Out
Four players scored in double figures and the Penguins made 14 3-points to secure a 99-61 victory over Bryant & Stratton on Jan. 9 at Zidian Family Arena. The Penguins, who improve to 9-9, were led by senior Bryson Dawkins' season-high 21 points and senior Cris Carroll's 18 points.  Junior Rich Rolf poured in 15 points and junior Tae Blackshear scored a career-high 15 points with three 3-pointers.

A Win Would...

• Improve YSU's record to 10-9 overall and 3-5 mark in the Horizon League.
• Give YSU a 3-5 away record this season.
• Mark Youngstown State's 23rd win over Wright State and the eighth straight.
• Be Youngstown State's fourth straight victory over Wright State at the Nutter Center.
• Mark the eighth time YSU defeated Wright State at the Nutter Center.
• Mark Ethan Faulkner's 31st career win and fourth win over Wright State.

Scouting Wright State
Wright State enters the game with an 11-7 overall record and a 6-1 mark in league play. The Raiders, who have won six straight league games and six straight overall, are coming off a 94-84 win over Oakland on Jan. 11. Michael Cooper leads the Raiders with 15.4 points per game while Michael Imariagbe is averaging 11.6 points per contest.  Wright State is 6-2 at home this season and averages 79.6 points per game overall while allowing 70.5 points per contest.

Series vs. Wright State
This is the 73rd meeting between Youngstown State and Wright State in a series dating back to 1977. The Raiders own a 50-22 advantage in the all-time series, but the Penguins have won the last seven contests. Earlier this season, Youngstown State defeated the Raiders, 69-68, on Dec. 3, 2025, at Zidian Family Arena. The Penguins have won the last three contests played at the Nutter Center and have won seven times in Dayton, Ohio.

Last Time Against Wright State
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.

King Reaches 300 Assists
With four assists against Northern Kentucky on Jan. 4, junior Drew King recorded the 300th assist of his collegiate career and now has 309. King leads the Penguins with 66 assists and 3.7 assists per game. He also ranks seventh in the league in total assists and eighth in assists per game. 

Osborne Named Top 100 Impactful Assistants
Associate Head Coach Dwaine Osborne was named to the 7th Annual Silver Wave Media Top 100 Impactful Mid-Major Assistants List. Osborne, who is in his second season with the Penguins, has helped Youngstown State to 29 victories since his arrival.

Guins Off to Fast HL Start
A trio Youngstown State players are off to a hot start in Horizon League play. Senior Cris Carroll ranks fourth in the league with 19.3 points per game and is shooting 49.4 percent from the floor and 41.7 percent from 3-point range. Senior Bryson Dawkins averages 12.0 points per contest and has a 52.2 field-goal percentage.  

Carroll hits career-high 7 3s; League Leader
Senior Cris Carroll has been deadly from distance all season long. He posted a career-best seven 3-pointers against Northern Kentucky on Jan. 4. The last player to make at least seven 3s in a game was Brandon Rush who made 10 on Nov. 13, 2023. Carroll leads the Horizon League with 57 made 3s, and 3.2 3-pointers made per game and is second with a .464 3-point percentage. He also ranks third in scoring with 17.2 points per game.

Zorgvol Leads League
Senior Imanuel Zorgvol has been a tremendous rim protector this season. Zorgvol leads the Horizon League with 31 total blocks and 1.7 blocks per game. He has recorded at least one block in 15 of 18 games and multiple blocks 11 times. Zorgvol posted four blocks against Grand Canyon (Nov. 7) and USC Upstate (Dec. 20).