GAME NOTES: The Youngstown State Penguins will try to stretch their winning streak to a season-high three games today, as they tussle with the Loyola- Chicago Ramblers in Horizon League play at the Beeghly Center. The Penguins are coming off their first HL win of the season, as they scored an 80-68 victory over Illinois-Chicago on Thursday. It was the team's second triumph in a row, matching its longest winning streak of the season. Now at 5-7 overall and an even 1-1 in conference play, YSU is set to play the third contest of its current four-game homestand. As for Loyola, it was also in play on Thursday, when it suffered a 63-55 setback at Cleveland State. It was the third loss in the past four games by the Ramblers, who dipped to 5-8 overall and 1-2 in conference play. Loyola however, does own a 9-8 edge in the all- time series with YSU and it has come out on top in three of the past four meetings between the squads.

The Ramblers shot a lackluster 37.3 percent from the floor, including a poor 3-of-19 performance from long-range, as they were defeated by Cleveland State on Thursday. The team was also outscored at the foul line, 18-8, in the setback. Darrin Williams paced Loyola with a career-high 21 points and eight rebounds. J.R. Blount turned in 12 points and five assists, while Andy Polka finished with 10 points and five boards. For the season, Blount is the team's top scorer at 14.8 ppg and he has also made his presence felt on defense, recording a club-best 23 steals. Leon Young averages 12.7 ppg and a team-high 7.1 rpg for the Ramblers, but he has missed the last two games with pneumonia and his status for today is uncertain. Justin Cerasoli chips in with 11.8 ppg for Loyola, which is netting only 63.2 ppg behind a modest 40.4 percent shooting from the floor this season.

The Penguins forced 17 turnovers and they scored 20 points off those miscues en route to a 12-point win over UIC on Thursday. YSU also made good on 50.0 percent of its total shots in the game and that includes a 7-of-17 effort from beyond the arc. Vytas Sulskis poured in 26 points and ripped down seven boards to lead the charge, while John Barber notched a double-double with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Byron Davis had nine points and six assists in the win, and he leads the team in scoring on the season with an average of 14.2 ppg. Barber is a close second with 13.6 ppg and he is also grabbing a team-high 6.8 rpg, while Jack Liles contributes 10.9 ppg and 5.3 rpg. Overall, YSU is turning in 67.0 ppg this season and it is making good 42.2 percent of its attempts from the floor.

The Penguins have gained some confidence of late and they should be able to use their momentum to get past Loyola for their third win in a row.