Setting the Scene
The Youngstown State men's basketball team (15-14, 8-10 Horizon League) enters the final week of the regular season with a pair of conference road games beginning with a matchup against Milwaukee, Wednesday, Feb. 25. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. ET at UWM Panther Arena and the game will be aired on 570 WKBN and ESPN+.

Up Next
Youngstown State plays its regular-season finale when it visits Green Bay, Saturday, Feb. 28. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. ET the Kress Center and the game will be aired on 570 WKBN and ESPN+.

Last Time Out
Youngstown State built a 20-point halftime lead, staved off a second-half comeback and held on for a 64-58 Senior Day win over Northern Kentucky on Feb. 22 at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center. Senior Bryson Dawkins scored at least 20 points for the fifth time this season leading the Penguins with a game-high 22 points and connected on 9-of-12 from the floor. Senior Cris Carroll recorded his third double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds while Imanuel Zorgvol scored seven points with nine rebounds and four blocks.

A Win Would...

• Improve YSU's record to 16-14 overall and 9-10 mark in the Horizon League.
• Give YSU 5-8 road record this season.
• Mark YSU's 22nd win over Milwaukee and the eighth in Milwaukee, Wis..
• Snap a three-game losing streak to the Panthers.
• Be the fifth win in the last seven games against the Panthers in Milwaukee.
• Mark Ethan Faulkner's 37th career win and first win over Milwaukee.

Scouting Milwaukee
Milwaukee enters the game with an overall record of 11-19 and a 7-12 mark in Horizon League play. The Panthers are coming off an 81-70 loss to Oakland on Feb. 22. Amar Aguillard leads the Panthers with 12.8 points per game. As a team, Milwaukee is averaging 76.3 points per game while allowing 80.0 points per contest. The Panthers also own a 4-5 home record in Horizon League contests.

Series vs. Milwaukee
This is the 58th meeting between Youngstown State and Milwaukee in a series dating back to 1972. The Panthers owna 36-21 advantage in the all-time series and have won the last three contests. Milwaukee defeated Youngstown State in the first meeting this season, 65-64, on Jan. 24 at Zidian Family Arena.  Youngstown State has won seven times in Milwaukee and its last road victory against the Panthers was an 84-80 overtime win on Feb. 23, 2024. The Penguins, however, own a 4-2 mark in the last six games played in Milwaukee. 

Last Time Against the Panthers
Milwaukee's Stevie Elam intercepted a pass and made a driving layup with 7.7 seconds to go to lift the Panthers to a 65-64 win over the Youngstown State men's basketball team on Saturday afternoon at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center. Senior Cris Carroll scored a game-high 19 points to lead the Penguins, and junior Rich Rolf scored 11 of his 14 points in the second half and posted nine rebounds.

Carroll Approaching 3s Record
Senior Cris Carroll has moved into YSU single-season top 10 chart for most 3-pointers made in a season and is approaching the single-season record. Carroll ranks tied for fifth with 83 3s and eight more to move into a tie for third on the list. With four 3s against Cleveland State on Feb. 18, Carroll became just the fifth player in school history to make at least 80 3s in a season. Carroll needs 12 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 16 points and 5.1 rebounds per game and shot .57.4 percent from the floor (96-for-167) in a 15-game span. He has also scored in double figures in 13 of those 15 games. Dawkins scored at least 20 points in consecutive games for the first time this season and he as five 20-point games in the last 14 contests.

Need to Lead at Half
It is imperative for the Penguins to lead after the first 20 minutes of action. All but one of Youngstown State's victories have come when it holds a lead at halftime. YSU is 14-4 in games when it leads at halftime, 1-8 when it trails at the intermission, and 0-2 when the game is tied.