Setting the Scene
The Youngstown State men's basketball team (13-13, 6-9 Horizon League) wraps up its five-day, two-game road trip when it visits Detroit Mercy, Sunday, Feb. 15. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. at Calihan Hall and the game will be aired on 570 WKBN and ESPN+.

Up Next
Youngstown State returns home to host in-state rival Cleveland State, Wednesday, Feb. 18. 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
Senior Cam Polak scored a season-high 26 points and made seven 3-pointers to lead Youngstown State to an 86-82 road victory against Oakland on Feb. 12 at the OU Credit Union O'Rena. Senior Bryson Dawkins scored 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field and grabbed nine rebounds while Cris Carroll recorded a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. The Penguins, who made 12 3-pointers, were perfect from the free-throw line, connecting of all 18 shots from the charity stripe.

A Win Would...
Improve YSU's record to 14-13 overall and 7-9 mark in the Horizon League.
Give YSU 5-7 road record this season.
Mark Youngstown State's 21st win over the Titans and its sixth straight win at Calihan Hall.
Be Youngstown State's ninth win over Detroit Mercy at Calihan Hall.
Mark Ethan Faulkner's 35th career win and third win over Detroit Mercy.

Series vs. Detroit Mercy
This is the 62nd meeting between Youngstown State and Detroit Mercy in a series dating back to 1953. The Titans own a 41-20 advantage in the all-time series, but the Penguins have won eight of the last nine contests. Detroit Mercy snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Penguins with a 73-68 win at Zidian Family Arena on Dec. 29, 2025. In the last meeting at Calihan Hall, the Penguins knocked off the Titans, 87-72, on Feb. 8, 2025. Youngstown State has won eight times at Calihan Hall, including the last five contests. The last time the Titans defeated the Penguins at Calihan Hall as a 93-91 victory on Jan. 12, 2018.

Scouting Detroit Mercy
Detroit Mercy enters the game with an overall record of 11-13 and an 8-7 mark in Horizon League play. The Titans are coming off a 77-74 road victory over league leader Wright State on Feb. 12. Orlando Lovejoy leads the Titans with 13.7 points per game while TJ Nadeau is averaging 13.2 points. As a team, the Titans are averaging 77.3 points per game while allowing 78.9 points per contest.

Last Time Against the Titans
Four players scored in double figures, but the Youngstown State men's basketball team fell to Detroit Mercy, 73-68, on Dec. 29 at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center. Senior Cris Carroll led the Penguins with 15 points and eight rebounds while senior Bryson Dawkins scored 14 points. Senior Jason Nelson and junior Tae Blackshear each added 12 points.

Guins Perfect From the Line
Youngstown State was perfect from the free-throw line in its 86-82 win over Oakland on Feb. 12, going 18-for-18. It's the first time the Penguins shot 100 percent (minimum 10 made free throws) from the free-throw line since going 15-for-15 against Detroit Mercy on Jan. 20, 2024. 

Polak Has Break Out Game
Sixth-year senior Cam Polak turned in his best offensive performance since joining the Penguins in 2025-26. Polak scored a season-high 26 points and made a season-best seven 3-pointers in the 86-82 win over Oakland.

Carroll Now Tied for Seventh
Senior Cris Carroll has moved into YSU single-season top 10 chart for most 3-pointers made in a season. Carroll ranks tied for seventh with 77 3s and two more to move into a tie for sixth on the list. Carroll also needs three more 3s to become just the fifth player in school history to make at least 80 3s in a season. Carroll needs 18 more 3s to break the single-season record of 94 set by Blake Allen in 2012-13.

Dawkins in 2026
Senior Bryson Dawkins has thoroughly enjoyed the calendar turn from 2025 to 2026. Since Jan. 1., Dawkins averaged 15.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game and shot .568 percent from the floor (75-for-132) in a 12-game span. He has also scored in double figures in 10 of those 12 games.