Setting the Scene
The Youngstown State men's basketball team (8-7, 2-3 Horizon League) plays its first road game of 2026 when it visits Northern Kentucky, Sunday, Jan. 4 at Truist Arena in Highland Heights, Ky. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. and the game will be aired on 570 WKBN and ESPN+.

Up Next
Youngstown State returns home to host Horizon League foe Purdue Fort Wayne, Wednesday, Jan. 7, at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center. Tipoff is set for 7:17 p.m. and the game will be aired on 570 WKBN and ESPN+.

Last Time Out
Youngstown State led by as many as 13 points but dropped a back-and-forth battle to Oakland, 85-83, on Jan. 1 at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center. Bryson Dawkins paced four Penguins in double figures with a season-high 20 points on 8-for-14 shooting from the field while also grabbing a team-high seven rebounds. Nelson scored 11 of his 14 points in the first half while adding eight assists and seven rebounds. Rich Rolf finished with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists while Cris Carroll scored 13 points and made three of YSU's 10 3-pointers.

A Win Would...

• Improve YSU's record to 9-7 overall and 3-3 in the Horizon League.
• Give YSU a 3-4 road record this season.
• Be Youngstown State's third win in the last four game against the Norse.
• Snap a four-game losing streak at Truist Arena
• Be the fifth time Youngstown State won in Highland Heights and the first time since 2020.
• Mark Ethan Faulkner's 30th career win and second victory over Northern Kentucky.

Scouting Northern Kentucky
Northern Kentucky enters the game with an overall record of 11-5 and a 3-2 conference mark. The Norse are coming off an 81-72 home win over IU Indy on Jan. 1 and a 79-77 road victory over Robert Morris on Dec. 29 Dan Gherezgher leads the Norse with 16.5 points per game while Donovan Oday and Kael Robinson are averaging 15.8 and 15.6 points per contest, respectively.  The Norse, who own an 8-2 home record, are averaging 83.8 points per game and allow 75.1 points per contest.

Series vs. Northern Kentucky
This is the 32nd meeting between Youngstown State and Northern Kentucky in a series dating back to 1976.  The Norse own an 18-13 advantage in the all-time series, but the Penguins have won two of the last three outings. Northern Kentucky defeated Youngstown State, 88-79, in the last meeting on March 1, 2025, in Highland Heights, Ky. The Penguins' last win over the Norse at Truist Arena was a 70-60 victory on Dec. 20, 2020.

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 19.0 points per game and is shooting 52.5 percent from the floor and 42.1 percent from 3-point range. Senior Bryson Dawkins averages 14.0 points per contest and has a 53.8 field-goal percentage.  Junior Rich Rolf is also averaging in double figures with 10.2 points per contest.

Zorgvol Leads League
Senior Imanuel Zorgvol has been a tremendous rim protector this season. Zorgvol leads the Horizon League with 26 total blocks and 1.7 blocks per game. He has recorded at least one block in 13 of 15 games and multiple blocks nine times. Zorgvol posted four blocks against Grand Canyon (Nov. 7) and USC Upstate (Dec. 20).

Carroll Hits 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 Efficient
Youngstown State's top three scorers are putting points up at quite an efficient pace. Cris Carroll, Bryson Dawkins and Rich Rolf are all averaging at least 10.2 points per game and shooting 49 percent or better from the field.

• Carroll - 16.8 ppg | 52.1 FG%
• Dawkins - 10.9 ppg | 49.3 FG%
• Rolf - 10.2 ppg | 50.9 FG%