Nov. 14, 2008
Men's Basketball Hosts Buffalo Saturday to Open 2008-09 Campaign
The Youngstown State men's basketball team begins its 79th season of play when it hosts Buffalo, Saturday, Nov. 15, in the 2008-09 season opener. Tipoff is slated for 7:05 p.m. at the Beeghly Center. The contest will also be broadcast live on NewsRadio 570 WKBN.
Tipoff Notes
q Saturday’s game is the 500th men’s basketball game to be played at the Beeghly Center since it opened in 1972. Youngstown State owns an all-time record of 291-208 in Beeghly Center for a winning percentage of .583.
q This is the 25th meeting in the all-time series between Youngstown State and Buffalo. The Guins own a slim 13-11 advantage, but have lost the last two meetings. Last season, YSU lost to Buffalo, 95-82, in Buffalo, N.Y. In games played at the Beeghly Center, YSU owns a 9-2 record and has won the last two games played at the Beeghly Center, including a 63-48 win on Dec. 7, 2002, in the most recent meeting in Youngstown. The last time Buffalo has won in the Beeghly Center was a 67-59 victory on Feb. 12, 1997.
q Youngstown State senior Jack Liles has played in 82 consecutive games, dating back to the 2005-06 season. Liles, who has played in 88 career games, needs 391 points, 97 rebounds and 20 blocks to become the first player in school history to reach 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 100 blocks in a career. Liles also ranks fourth all-time with 80 career blocked shots.
q With four 3-pointers against Buffalo, sophomore Vytas Sulskis will become the third fastest player to reach 50 career 3-pointers in school history. Sulskis will have reached 50 triples in 31 games. Elmer Brown was the quickest to 50 career treys. He accomplished the feat in just 24 games in 1998-99. Tilman Bevely reached 50 in just 25 games in 1986-87.
q Youngstown State Head Coach Jerry Slocum is coaching in his 995th career game against the Bulls. Slocum will coach his 1,000th career game when the Guins host Valparaiso on Dec. 4, at the Beeghly Center.
About Buffalo
q The University at Buffalo is located in Buffalo, N.Y. and has an enrollment of 28,054. The Bulls have been member of the Mid-American Conference since 1998. Prior to joining the MAC, Buffalo was a member of the Mid-Continent Conference (now the Summit League) from 1994-98.
q Buffalo returns 13 letterwinners and all five starters from last season’s 10-20 squad. Senior guard Andy Robinson is the Bulls’ leading returning scorer with 13.1 points per game. Robinson was the lone Bulls player to average double figures in scoring in 2007-08. Junior guard/forward Calvin Betts ranked second on the team with 8.8 points per game, but led the Bulls with 6.6 rebounds per game.
q Buffalo Head Coach Reggie Witherspoon is in his 10th season at Buffalo and owns a 105-159 record. Overall, Witherspoon is in his 12th year and sports a career mark of 149-182. Prior to joining the Bulls, Witherspoon was the head coach at Erie Community College for two years and posted a 44-23 record.
About Youngstown State
q Youngstown State begins its 79th season of collegiate basketball in 2008-09. The Penguins return three starters (Vance Cooksey, Jack Liles and Vytas Sulskis) and six letterwinners from last season’s squad. The Penguins have also added seven newcomers to fill out the roster.
q The Penguins’ leading returning scorer is senior Jack Liles, who averaged 9.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. Sophomore Vytas Sulskis posted 9.0 points per game and set the YSU freshman record with 46 3-pointers.
Up Next... Maryland
The Penguins make their first trip to College Park, Md., to take on Maryland for the first time in school history. The Guins visit Maryland, Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 8 p.m. The Terrapins open the 2008-09 season when they host Bucknell, Friday, Nov. 14, at 8 p.m. at the Comcast Center.
The Buffalo Series
This will be the 25th meeting between Youngstown State and Buffalo in a series that dates back to 1963. The Guins own a slight 13-11 edge in the all-time series but the Bulls have won the last two contests, including a 95-82 victory last season in Buffalo. In games played at the Beeghly Center, YSU owns a 9-2 record and has won the last two games played at the Beeghly Center. The last time Buffalo has won in the Beeghly Center was a 67-59 victory on Feb. 12, 1997.
Guins In Season Openers
This is the 79th season of Penguins basketball and in the 78 previous season openers, the Guins own a 36-42 overall record. The Penguins have had success defending their home court with a 26-14 record while posting a 9-28 record when opening the season on their opponents home court. The Guins are also 1-0 when playing a season opener on a neutral court. Since the 1995-96 season, the Guins have opened the season at home only twice and picked up wins both times (Slippery Rock, 92-71, in 1999-2000, and Lock Haven, 70-56, in 2004-05). They also have a neutral site win over Central Michigan (74-50) to open the 2006-07 campaign.
The Big 500
When the Guins open the 2008-09 season, they will be playing in the 500th men’s basketball game to be played at the Beeghly Center since it opened in the 1972. Youngstown State owns an all-time record of 291-208 in Beeghly Center for a winning percentage of .583.
Slocum Approaching 1,000th Career Game
Youngstown State Head Coach Jerry Slocum is coaching in his 995th career game against the Bulls. Slocum will coach his 1,000th career game when the Guins host Valparaiso on Dec. 4, at the Beeghly Center.
Liles Stayin’ Steady
Senior Jack Liles has played in 82 consecutive games, datiing back to the 2005-06 season. Liles, who has played in 88 career games, needs 391 points, 97 rebounds and 20 blocks to become the first player in school history to reach 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 100 blocks in a career. Liles also ranks fourth all-time with 80 career blocked shots.
Sulskis Slings ‘Em
With four 3-pointers against Buffalo, sophomore Vytas Sulskis will become the third fastest player to reach 50 career 3-pointers in school history. Sulskis will have reached 50 triples in 31 games. Elmer Brown was the quickest to 50 career treys. He accomplished the feat in just 24 games in 1998-99. Tilman Bevely reached 50 in just 25 games in 1986-87. Last season, Sulskis set the YSU freshman record with 46 3-pointers and was named to the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Freshman All-America Team.
Charitable Cooksey
Sophomore Vance Cooksey was almost automatic from the charity stripe last season. Cooksey led the Penguins with a .797 free-throw percentage, making 55-of-69 attempts. Cooksey was also the only player on the squad to shoot over 70 percent from the free-throw line.
Boudler the Rebounder
Last season, forward Dan Boudler set a school freshman record by grabbing 15 rebounds against Lock Haven. The previous mark was 14 held by Brian Radakovich (2002 vs. Cleveland State) and Dave Klenovich (1982 vs. Delaware State). Boulder finished with seven offensive boards and eight defensive caroms against the Bald Eagles. He missed the last 19 games of the season after suffering a broken bone in his hand against Slippery Rock.
Guins Sign All-Stater Lamar McKnight
Head Coach Jerry Slocum announced that Lamar McKnight, a Division IV Third-Team All-Ohio selection, has signed a National Letter of Intent during the early signing period to join the Youngstown State men’s basketball program.
McKnight, a 6-foot-5, 205-pound forward from Bedford St. Peter Chanel High School, averaged a double-double as a junior with 17 points and 10 rebounds per game while leading Chanel to the Division IV state Final Four. McKnight also posted three blocks per game and shot more than 50 percent from the field.
A three-time All-North Coast League First-Team selection, McKnight scored a game-high 31 points in a regional final victory over Malvern and posted 23 points and 14 rebounds in a state-semifinal loss to Sugarcreek Garaway.
Fresh Faces
There will be several new faces on the YSU roster for the 2008-09 season. The Guins added seven newcomers, including five junior college transfers and two freshmen. Juniors Dallas Blocker, Kelvin Bright, Sirlester Martin and DeAndre Mays and sophomore Tom Parks all come from the junior-college ranks. Eddie D’Haiti and Ashen Ward are true freshmen.
Team Information
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