Surging YSU Basketball Team Selected for National Broadcast on ESPN2

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The Youngstown State University basketball team is tied for first place in its conference and getting noticed.

The team’s home game against Oakland University of Michigan on Friday, Jan. 27, will be broadcast on national television.

The Horizon League office was informed by ESPN this week that the game, which will start at 9 p.m. at Beeghly Center, has been selected for broadcast.

Tickets can be purchased online at YSUSports.com or by calling the YSU ticket office at 330 941 1978.

The Penguins, who are 14-5 overall and 6-2 in league play, are coming off an impressive 85-69 win over the Oakland Golden Grizzlies on Jan. 14.

The upcoming television broadcast will mark the first time the Penguins have played a national ESPN game at Beeghly Center since hosting Milwaukee on ESPNU in 2010 in front of a crowd of 6,087. The Penguins also hosted and defeated Cleveland State, 64-60, in front of 6,249 on ESPNU in 2009.

The Penguins last appeared on ESPN2 during conference play in 2020-21 when they defeated Northern Kentucky, 70-60, in Highland Heights, Ky., on Dec. 20, 2020, and Wright State, 74-72, in Dayton, Ohio, on Jan. 8, 2021.

Youngstown State has one of the top offenses in the country, ranking among the top 11 nationally in five categories. The Penguins ranked second with a 40.7 3-point percentage, fifth with 84.9 points per game, sixth with a 50.3 field-goal percentage and 57.6 effective field-goal percentage, and 11th with a 78.5 free-throw percentage. 

The Penguins have won four straight and seven of their last eight games. Over the past eight contests, the Penguins are averaging 83.6 points per game while shooting 52.4 percent from the field, 43.7 percent from 3-point range and 80.7 percent from the free-throw line. 

Brandon Rush is averaging 17.9 points per game while shooting 56.4 percent from the floor, 49.1 percent from 3-point range and 91.7 percent from the free-throw line. 

Dwayne Cohill is averaging 16.6 points and 6.1 assists per game, while Malek Green is averaging 14.4 points per game and shooting 59.5 percent from the floor.

Pictured at top: YSU basketball players cheer on their teammates during a recent game at Beeghly Center. (Robert Hayes photo)

Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.