Youngstown State University
Akron (Exhibition)
10/24/2026 12:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Opening Tip
The Youngstown State men's basketball team gears up for the start of the 2026-27 campaign when it visits Akron in an exhibition game, Tuesday, Oct. 27. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at James A. Rhodes Arena.
Get Tickets
Fans can purchase tickets at www.GoZips.com
Up Next
Youngstown State opens the 2026-27 regular season at St. Bonaventure, Monday, Nov. 2. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Reilly Center in St. Bonaventure, N.Y.
Last Time Against Akron
Last season, the Penguins and squared off in an exhibition game at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center. Youngstown State erased a nine-point halftime deficit and outscored Akron in the second half by 15 enroute to an 84-78 victory over the Zips on Oct. 29, 2025.
The Akron Series
The Penguins and Zips have faced each other 91 times in the all-time series (non-exhibition games). Akron leads the series, 59-32, and has won the last two contests. Youngstown State last defeated Akron, 90-82, on November 12, 2016, at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center.
Heavy Loaded Slate
Youngstown State loaded up its non-conference schedule with teams from the Atlantic-10, Big Ten, Big XII, Mid-American, Southeastern, and Sun Belt conferences.
Power 4 Progression
For the first time in program history, the Penguins will play four games against teams from the Power 4 Conference, including the Ohio State, Cincinnati, Ole Miss and South Carolina. It marks the first time Youngstown State will play two teams from the SEC in the same season.
Success Under Faulkner
Ethan Faulkner (36-30 overall) is in his third season as Head Coach of the Youngstown State men's basketball program after serving as the associate head coach for two years and three seasons as an assistant coach. During Faulkner's time at YSU, the Penguins won a total of 134 games.
Guins Lately
Over the last five seasons, Youngstown State has won 101 overall games and has 62 conference victories. The Penguins won 19 games in 2021-22, 24 during the 2022-23 season, 22 in 2023-24, and 21 in 2024-25. In league play, the Penguins won 12, 15, 14 and 13 games, respectively.
Lone Returner
Sophomore guard Jaiden Haynes is the lone returner from last season's squad. He appeared in 21 games and made two starts and averaged 4.8 points and 1.5 rebounds per game.
Hitting the Portal
The Penguins will rely heavily on several transfer portal players, including Dom Aekins, Kelvin Amoako, Jermaine Coleman, Linus Holmstrom, Jamar Livingston, Japhet Moupadele, Jeff Nwankwo, and Jayden Tyler. Youngstown State also added true freshmen Kaelin Destin, Elijah Summers-Livingston, Jacob Spurlock, and Andrew Adcock-Vidouria.
The Man in the Middle
Senior center Kelvin Amoako spent the last two seasons at UIndy, and he scored 300 points with 225 rebounds and 31 blocks. Amoako averaged 10 points and 7.5 rebounds per game and shot 61.1 percent from the field. He scored in double figures 13 times and posted five double-doubles and recorded at least 10 rebounds eight times.
Holmstrom Brings DI Experience
Junior guard Linus Holmstrom, who transferred from VMI where he scored 578 career points the last two season, scored 352 points with 77 rebounds, 33 steals and 78 3-pointers in 2025-26. He averaged 11.4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game and shot 43.8 percent from the field and 39.4 percent from 3-point range.
Nwankwo Accolades
Fifth-year guard Jeff Nwankwo, an Oklahoma transfer, appeared in 24 games for the Sooners in 2025-26 after missing 2024-25 due to injury. At Cowley College, Nwankwo was named the 2023-24 Kansas Jayhawk Community College conference (KJCCC) Player of the Year and earned a spot on the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I All-America first team. He led Cowley to a 28-6 mark and an appearance in the NJCAA DI Sweet Sixteen, and he averaged 18.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.9 steals per outing. He also shot 48.9 percent (218-446) from the field, 37.0 percent (68-184) from behind the arc and 73.8 percent (127-172) from the line.
