Setting the Scene
The Youngstown State men's basketball team (9-10, 2-6 Horizon League) closes out its two-game road swing 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+.

Up Next
Youngstown State returns home to begin a three-game homestand when it hosts Green Bay, Thursday, Jan. 22. Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Zidian Family Arena and the game will be aired on 570 WKBN and ESPN+.

Last Time Out
Five players scored in double figures, and the Youngstown State men's basketball team made 14 3-pointers but suffered a 93-83 setback to Horizon League leader Wright State on Jan. 15 at the Nutter Center. Senior Bryson Dawkins led the Penguins with 19 points while Vlad Salaridze posted a season-high 17 points and grabbed a team-best seven rebounds. Seniors Jason Nelson and Imanuel Zorgvol and freshman Jaiden Haynes each scored 11 points. Zorgvol also grabbed four rebounds.

A Win Would...

• Improve YSU's record to 10-10 overall and a 3-6 mark in the Horizon League.
• Give YSU a 3-6 away record this season.
• Mark Youngstown State's 49th win over Cleveland State and the third straight over the Vikings.
• Be Youngstown State's second straight win over the Vikings at the Wolstein Center and the 19th in Cleveland, including a 70-55 victory at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse (formerly Quicken Loans Arena).
• Mark Ethan Faulkner's 31st career win and third win over Cleveland State.

Scouting Cleveland State
Cleveland State enters the game with an overall record of 5-14 and a 1-7 conference mark. The Vikings are coming off an 88-73 loss to Green Bay on Jan. 15. Leading the Vikings, who are 1-3 at home in league action, are led by Dayan Nessah with 13.9 points per game while Tre Beard is averaging 13.4 points per contest.  Cleveland Sate is averaging 79.1 points per game while allowing 85.1 points per contest.

Series vs. Cleveland State
This is the 108th meeting between Youngstown State and Cleveland State in a series dating back to 1930. The Vikings own a 59-48 advantage in the all-time series, but the Penguins have won the last two games. Youngstown State defeated the Vikings, 56-54, in the Horizon League semifinals on March 10, 2025, in Indianapolis, Ind. The Penguins beat Cleveland State, 68-60, the last time the teams played at the Wolstein Center on Feb. 16, 2025.

Haynes Rising
Freshman Jaiden Haynes has made the most of his playing time over his last two games played. Haynes is averaging 11.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game and shooting 57.1 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from 3-point range during that time.

Salaridze Nets Season High
Vlad Salaridze posted his best outing the of the season against Wright State on Jan. 15. Salaridze scored a season-high 17 points and grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. He also connected three times from 3-point range.

Zorgvol Leads League
Senior Imanuel Zorgvol has been a tremendous rim protector this season. Zorgvol leads the Horizon League with 35 total blocks and 1.8 blocks per game. He has recorded at least one block in 16 of 19 games and multiple blocks 12 times. Zorgvol posted four blocks against Wright State (Jan. 15), Grand Canyon (Nov. 7) and USC Upstate (Dec. 20).

Guins Top Scorers are Efficient
Youngstown State's top two scorers are putting points up at quite an efficient pace. Cris Carroll and Bryson Dawkins are all averaging at least 11.4 points per game and shooting 49 percent or better from the field.

• Carroll - 16.4 ppg | 49.5 FG%
• Dawkins - 11.4 ppg | 51.7 FG%

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 314. King leads the Penguins with 71 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 30 victories since his arrival.