By Annie Walker
YSU GAME NOTES FOR WRIGHT STATE GAME
https://ysusports.com/documents/2024/1/11/2023-24-notes-wsu-1.pdf
1 12 2024
Youngstown State vs. Wright State
Jan. 12, 2024 | Beeghly Center
Youngstown, Ohio | 9 p.m.
Broadcast Information
Radio: 570 WKBN (Robb Schmidt/Ron Postesta) | Listen
TV: ESPN2 (Jordan Bernfield/David Padgett)
App Audio – iHeartRadio App
Live Stats
Tipoff Notes
The Youngstown State men’s basketball team (12-5, 4-2 Horizon League) closes out its three-game homestand when it hosts Wright State in a crucial, nationally-televised Horizon League match up on Friday, Jan. 12. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. at Beeghly Center in Youngstown, Ohio. The game will be broadcast on 570 WKBN and ESPN2.
Up Next
The Penguins visit Oakland, Wednesday, Jan. 17. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in Rochester, Mich.
Last Time Out
Youngstown State is coming off a thrilling 93-85 win over Purdue Fort Wayne on Jan. 10 at Beeghly Center. Three players scored in double figures led by Brett Thompson’s 24 points. Ziggy Reid had 23 points while Brandon Rush added 20 points. DJ Burns posted his eighth double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
Scouting Wright State
Wright State enters the game with an overall record of 9-8 and 4-2 in Horizon League play. Trey Calvin leads the Raiders with 19.1 points per game while Tanner Holden is posting 17.8 points per contest. The Raiders are averaging 85.8 points per game as a team.
Series vs. Wright State
This is the 68th meeting between Youngstown State and Wright State in a series that dates back to 1977. Wright State owns a 50-17 advantage in the all-time series, but the Penguins have won the last two contests and five of the last seven games. Last season, the Penguins defeated the Raiders, 88-77, in Dayton, Ohio, and 91-89 in triple overtime at Beeghly Center. The Penguins have also defeated the Raiders 12 times at Beeghly Center.
A Win Would...
- Improve YSU’s record to 13-5 overall and 5-2 in Horizon League play.
- Be the second straight year YSU began 13-5 after 18 games.
- Give YSU a 10-1 home record.
- Be YSU’s 18th win over Wright State.
- Be the 13th win over the Raiders at Beeghly Center.
- Mark the third straight win over Wright State and the fourth in the last five games.
- Be the 233rd in Head Coach Jerrod Calhoun‘s career and his 109th at Youngstown State.
- Make Jerrod Calhoun the third coach in school history to record at least 109 wins.
- Be Jerrod Calhoun‘s sixth win over Wright State.
Best Starts
A win over Wright State will mark the second straight year Youngstown State began the season 13-5 after 18 games. It would mark the just the third time since 1981-82 that YSU started a season with 13 wins after 18 contests.
20+ Trio
For the first time in 23 years, three Youngstown State men’s basketball players scored at least 20 points in the same game. Against Purdue Fort Wayne, Brett Thompson, Ziggy Reid and Brandon Rush all eclipsed the 20-point plateau. Thompson led the Penguins with 24 points while Reid had 23 points and Rush posted 20. The last time that occurred was on Jan. 25, 2001 when Ryan Patton scored 32 points, Stephen Flores had 24, and Desmond Harrison added 21 points against Western Illinois in a 121-116 triple overtime loss.
BT Sets FT Mark
Brett Thompson set the Youngstown State single-game free throws made record after going 17-for-20 from the line against Purdue Fort Wayne on Jan. 10. He broke the record of 15 that was set in 1992 and tied twice in 2016 and 2019. He also tied the free-throws attempted mark set in 2019.
Guins Beyond the Arc
Over the last four games, the Penguins have been on fire from beyond arc. Youngstown State has made 45 3s over the last three contests for an average of 11.3 per game. The Penguins have made at least 10 3s in a game eight times this season and connected on 38.2 percent from behind the arc in Horizon League play.
Home Sweet Home
Youngstown State has been quite protective of its home court over the last four-plus seasons. The Penguins had won 15 straight regular-season home games and have won 19 of the last 22 overall. YSU has won 59 games at Beeghly Center since the start of the 2019-20 season and own a 59-19 mark during that time. Youngstown State is 23-4 at Beeghly Center since the start of the 2022-23 season.
Penguin Portal Success
Over the last two-plus seasons, Youngstown State has flourished during the transfer portal era. The Penguins own a record of 55-30 over the past two-plus campaigns, and produced five all-conference selections. Youngstown State has been tough to beat at home over the last two-plus years posting a 36-11 mark.
COURTESY YOUNGSTOWN STATE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
