The Youngstown State men's basketball team (9-7, 4-2 Horizon League) looks to get back to its winning ways when it visits two-time national runner-up Butler (9-9, 3-3 Horizon League) on Sunday, Jan. 15. Tipoff is set for 2:07 p.m. (EDT) at Hinkle Field House in Indianapolis, Ind. The game can be heard on 570 WKBN-AM.
The Butler Series
This is the 23rd meeting between Youngstown State and Butler in an all-time series that dates back to 1983. The Bulldogs own a 19-3 advantage in the all-time series and had won 10 straight over the Guins until a 62-60 YSU victory last season at the Beeghly Center. In the last meeting at Hinkle, Butler escaped with an 84-79 victory.
About Butler
Butler is currently 9-9 overall and 3-3 in the Horizon League and is coming off a 76-69 loss to Cleveland State on Jan. 13. Andrew Smith is the lone Bulldogs averaging in double figures with 10.2 points per game. Butler is averaging 64.1 points per game.
Series vs. Butler (3-19)
Feb. 3, 2011 Youngstown W, 62-60
Jan. 9, 2011 Indianapolis, Ind. L, 79-84
Feb. 11,2010 Youngstown L, 57-68
Jan. 16, 2010 Indianapolis L, 61-91
Feb. 26, 2009 Indianapolis L, 57-78
Dec. 6, 2008 Youngstown L, 71-79
Feb. 14, 2008 Indianapolis L, 73-89
Jan. 19, 2008 Youngstown L, 69-78
Jan. 31, 2007 Youngstown L, 58-71
Jan. 17, 2007 Indianapolis L, 39-67
Feb. 22, 2006 Indianapolis L, 64-72
Jan. 21, 2006 Youngstown W, 64-62
Feb. 23, 2005 Youngstown L, 59-79
Jan. 19, 2005 Indianapolis L, 37-50
March 2, 2004 Indianapolis L, 57-88
Feb. 25, 2004 Indianapolis L, 76-81
Jan. 21, 2004 Youngstown L, 66-67
Feb. 22, 2003 Youngstown L, 60-69
Jan. 18, 2003 Indianapolis L, 60-64
Feb. 16, 2002 Indianapolis L, 50-75
Jan. 12, 2002 Youngstown L, 50-68
Dec. 19, 1983 Muncie, Ind. W, 90-79
Horizon League "Dawg" Fight
The last two games between YSU and Butler have been decided by a combined seven points. In the last three games, the total point differential has been 18 points.
A Win Will
• Improve YSU 10-7 on the year and 5-2 in the Horizon League.
• Mark YSU's first 10-win season since 2008-09.
• Mark the quickest to 10 victories since the 2000-01 squad started 11-6.
• Mark the first 5-2 start in conference play since 2000-01.
• Mark YSU's fifth road win of the season.
• Mark the most road victories in a season since the 2000-01 season.
• Mark the program's fourth win over Butler.
• Mark YSU's first win at Hinkle Field House.
• Mark YSU's first consecutive wins over Butler.
• Mark Head Coach Jerry Slocum's 648th career victory and his 68th at Youngstown State.
• Mark YSU's 1,002nd victory in the program's history.
Ward Named POW
For the first time in his career, senior Ashen Ward was named the Horizon League Player of the Week on Jan. 9. Ward averaged 21.5 points per game last week and shot at a 63.6 percent clip from the field and 70 percent from 3-point range. He posted consecutive 20-point performance in two wins over Loyola (21 points) and UIC (22).
KP=All-Around Player
Sophomore Kendrick Perry continues to prove that he is one of the top all-around players in the Horizon League. Perry ranks fifth in the league in scoring (14.9), second in steals (2.3) and assist-to-turnover ratio (2.3), tied for second in assists (4.3) and tied for ninth in 3-pointers made per game (1.6).
Allen Streakin From 3
Junior Blake Allen has made at least one 3-pointer in all 16 games this season and has made at least one in 23 straight contests dating back to last year. He has also made at least three 3-pointers in 10 of 16 games this year. Allen also leads the Horizon League with 3.1 3-pointers made per game. Allen has also made 90 3-pointers in the last 33 games.
Guins Setting Record Pace
The Guins have made 147 3-pointers in 16 games this season for an average of 9.2 3-pointers made per game. They are on pace to shatter the school's single-season mark of 235 set last year. If YSU continues this pace over the next 14 guaranteed games, they will finish the season with 276 3-pointers made.
Eargle Block Party
Junior Damian Eargle has recorded a block in every game this season. He has posted multiple blocks in 14 of 16 games and has swatted at least three blocks in 13 games. Over the last three games, Eargle has tallied 16 blocked shots for an average of 5.3 blocks per contest. He has also posted at least five blocks nine times this season.
Ward Award Sets Mark
Senior Ashen Ward's selection as the Horizon League Co-Player of the Week marks the third time this season a YSU player has won the award. It marks the first time since the 2006-07 season that YSU won three player-of -the-week awards. It is also the first time since joining the Horizon League that three different players won the award in the same season.
2006-07 Award Winners
Dec. 11 - Keston Roberts
Jan. 2 - Keston Roberts
Feb. 19 - Quin Humphrey
2011-12 Award Winners
Dec. 5 - DuShawn Brooks
Jan. 2 - Damian Eargle
Jan. 9 - Ashen Ward
The Starting Line
• The Guins have had the same starting lineup in all 16 games.
• All five starters are averaging in double figures in all games and in Horizon League games only.
• Each starter has posted at least one 20-point outing.
• All five starters rank in the top 20 in scoring in the Horizon League.
• Starters account for 88.2 percent of the Guins' scoring.
Eargle Third Nationally
Junior Damian Eargle continues to be one of the top shot blockers in the country. Eargle currently ranks third nationally with 4.3 blocks per game. Last season, he finished the year ranked 10th in the country with 3.0 blocks per game.
Ward Heating Up
Senior Ashen Ward has caught fire over the last four games. The Cleveland, Ohio, native averaged 17.8 points and 4.5 rebounds per game during that span and shot 56.1 percent (23-for-41) from the field and 60 percent (12-for-20) from 3-point range.
Guins in National Stats
In the latest NCAA stats released on Jan. 8, YSU can be found throughout several categories. The Guins rank sixth with 10.2 turnovers per game seventh nationally with 9.3 3-pointers made per game, 18th with 5.8 blocks per game and 22nd with a 1.29 assist-to-turnover ratio. Individually, besides Damian Eargle, Blake Allen is 11th with a with 3.1 3-pointers made per game 34th with a .431 3-point percentage. Kendrick Perry ranks 25th with 2.3 steals per game.
Eargle Single-Season Blocks Rank 4th
Junior Damian Eargle has 69 blocks in 15 games this season. His total already ranks fourth on the YSU single-season blocks chart. His 91 last season rank second on the list.
Last Time Out
Junior Blake Allen and sophomore Kendrick Perry each scored 16 points while senior Ashen Ward posted 13 points and junior Damian Eargle added 11, but the Guins dropped a 76-62 decision to Valparaiso on Jan. 13.
Up Next
The Guins begin a three-game homestand when they host Milwaukee, Friday, Jan. 20, at 7:05 p.m. at the Beeghly Center. The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN3.com.
Eargle Moves Into Second
Junior Damian Eargle has moved into second place on the YSU career blocks chart in just 45 games played. Eargle has 160 blocked shots. The only player ahead of Eargle is Ricky Tunstall, who recorded 221 career blocks. Counting his 57 blocks at UNC-Greensboro, Eargle has reached 211 blocked shots for his entire college career.
Allen Nearing 100 3's
In just 46 career games, junior Blake Allen is nearing the century mark for 3-pointers made. Allen has 98 3-pointers during his time at YSU. The fastest to reach 100 made 3-pointers in a career was Elmer Brown (1998-2000), who made his 100th triple in his 45th game.
Perry Surpasses 500 Points
Sophomore Kendrick Perry could become the 33rd player in school history to score 1,000 career points. In just 46 career games, Perry has scored 508 points and needs 492 more to reach the coveted plateau. For his career, he is averaging 11 points per game, including a 14.9 points per game scoring average this year.
Ward Now Ranks 8th
With 27 3-pointers this season, senior Ashen Ward now ranks eighth all-time with 124 career 3-pointers. He needs three more to move into seventh place on the list.
Guins Celebrate 40 Years in Beeghly
The 2011-12 campaign is the 40th season the Beeghly Center has been the home of Youngstown State men's basketball. YSU first took to the court in the Beeghly Center in 1972-73. YSU has a record of 318-234 in games played in the Beeghly Center.
Eargle Named HL Player of the Week
Junior forward Damian Eargle was named the Horizon League Player of the Week on Jan. 2. Eargle posted his second double-double with a season-high 20 points and 10 rebounds and led the Penguins to a 73-67 win over Cleveland State on Dec. 31. Eargle scored 14 of his points in the second half. He went 8-of-11 from the field. It marks the first time in his YSU career Eargle has won the league accolade.
Brooks Named Player of the Week
Senior DuShawn Brooks was named the Horizon League Player of the Week for Dec. 5. Brooks averaged 20.5 points per game and shot 61.5 percent from the field and 64.3 percent from 3-point range. He scored a career-high 24 points against Detroit on Dec. 1 to lead the Guins to a 64-61 win. He also led the team with 17 points in a one-point loss to Wright State on Dec. 3. The last YSU player to earn the award was DeAndre Mays on Jan. 11, 2010.
Last With 10 Assists
With 10 assists against Buffalo on Dec. 10, sophomore Kendrick Perry became the first player to accomplish the feat since DeAndre May did so against Valparaiso on Feb. 13, 2010.
Guins Set 3's Mark Again
For the third time this season, the Guins tied the school single-game record with 14 3-pointers made in a game against Buffalo on Dec. 10. The Guins tied the school single-game mark with 14 3-pointers game against Penn State on Nov. 23. and Notre Dame College on Nov. 15. The previous time YSU made 14 3 pointers in a game was against Butler on Jan. 9, 2011. Against the Bulls, the Guins also tied the school single-game mark for most 3-point field goals attempted with 35.
Eargle Has Chance For 1,000
In under three seasons of playing college basketball, junior Damian Eargle has scored more than 700 points with 780. Eargle needs just 220 more points to reach 1,000 for his entire career, which includes 268 points during the 2008-09 season at UNC-Greensboro. Last season, Eargle ranked second on the squad with 339 points for an average of 11.3 points per game.
Last to Score 30
With 30 points against Loyola on Jan. 9, 2010, DeAndre Mays set a career-high and became the first player to score at least 30 points since Keston Roberts scored 31 against Detroit on Feb. 27, 2007. Mays' performance was the 10th time under Jerry Slocum a player has scored at least 30 points in a game. YSU had just 10 30-point plus performances from Feb. 1988 to Dec. 2005.
