The Youngstown State men’s basketball team (8-6, 3-1 Horizon League) seeks to match its win total from a season ago when it hosts UIC (5-10, 1-4 Horizon League), Saturday, Jan. 7, at 7:05 p.m. at the Beeghly Center.

This is the 28th meeting between Youngstown State and UIC in an all-time series that dates back to 1993. The Flames own a 21-6 advantage in the series. The Guins have won five of the last six contests played in Youngstown, including the last two games. Last season, YSU defeated UIC, 71-69, at the Beeghly Center.

UIC is currently 5-10 overall and 1-4 in the Horizon League. The Flames are coming off a 73-56 loss to Cleveland State on Thursday evening, but also have two overtime losses to league members Milwaukee and Wright State. Daniel Barnes leads the Flames with 11.3 points per game while Gary Talton and Darrin Williams are also averaging in double figures with 10.7 and 10.5 points per game, respectively.

If YSU can pull out they win, they would improve to 4-1 in Horizon League play and would also match the fastest group of Penguins cagers to get to nine wins since the 2000-20001 season.

This team is good, they didn’t play their best in an overtime win against Loyola on Thursday but still managed to come away with a win due to defensive stops and somebody different stepping up on offense the last few trips down the floor.

Earlier in the season, DuShawn Brooks and Damian Eargle played hot shooter roles for Jerry Slocum‘s team.  Ashen Ward has recently stepped up.  The senior captain from Cleveland is averaging 18 points and shooting 57.9 percent from the field and 60 percent from 3-point range during that span. In four Horizon League games, Ward is averaging 12.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting 51.5 percent from the floor and 52.9 percent behind the arc.