Mastodons Edge Penguins in Close Contest
Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 7:15 PM ET · Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center
Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons 71, Youngstown State Penguins 69, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons vs Youngstown State Penguins?
Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons beat Youngstown State Penguins 71-69 at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center on January 7, 2026.
Who was favored in Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons vs Youngstown State Penguins?
Youngstown State Penguins were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -230 (about 70% implied). The underdog won.
In a tightly contested matchup, the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons narrowly defeated the Youngstown State Penguins with a final score of 71-69. This game, held at the Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center, showcased the competitive spirit of both teams, with the Mastodons improving their record to 11-8 while the Penguins fell to 8-10.
The Mastodons entered the game with a record of 10-8 and a recent form of 7-3 over their last ten games, including a current winning streak of one game. They averaged 76.9 points scored while allowing 74.5 points during this stretch. Their last game saw them triumph over the Cleveland State Vikings with a score of 74-71. In contrast, the Penguins had a record of 8-9, but they struggled recently, going 6-4 in their last ten outings and currently on a three-game losing streak. They averaged 78.5 points scored and 69.7 points allowed in those games. Their most recent loss was against the Northern Kentucky Norse, where they fell 79-94.
At home, the Penguins had a record of 5-2, while their away record stood at 1-2. The Mastodons, on the other hand, were 6-1 at home and 1-2 in away games. This fixture was noteworthy as it marked the fourth meeting between the two teams, with the Mastodons trailing in the head-to-head record at 2-1. The Penguins had won the last two encounters, including a 93-71 victory in February 2025 and a 72-67 win in March 2025, but the Mastodons had previously taken a decisive 90-81 victory in January 2025.
In terms of injuries, the block did not provide specific details on player availability, but such factors can often influence the outcome of close games. The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had the Penguins favored by 4.5 points, with a total set at 145.5. The odds indicated a home money line of -230.0 for Youngstown State and +190.0 for Purdue Fort Wayne.
The conditions during the game were not specified, but the atmosphere at the Zidian Family Arena was likely charged, given the stakes for both teams. Fans witnessed a thrilling second half where the lead changed multiple times, culminating in a dramatic finish. Key moments included a crucial three-point jumper from Maximus Nelson that extended the Mastodons' lead, followed by free throws from Cris Carroll and Yuval Levin that kept the pressure on the Penguins.
As the game wound down, Imanuel Zorgvol made a significant alley-oop dunk, bringing the score to a tie at 69-69. However, it was Corey Hadnot II who sealed the game for the Mastodons with two successful free throws, pushing the score to 71-69. The Penguins had opportunities to respond but were unable to convert, resulting in their third consecutive loss.
Overall, this matchup highlighted the resilience of the Mastodons as they continue to build momentum in their season, while the Penguins will need to regroup and address their recent struggles as they look ahead.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | YSU -4.5 | 145.5 o -115 / u -105 | Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons +190 · Youngstown State Penguins -230 |
Leaders
- PointsCris Carroll14Youngstown State Penguins
- AssistsVlad Salaridze4Youngstown State Penguins
- ReboundsRich Rolf10Youngstown State Penguins
- PointsCorey Hadnot II14Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons
- AssistsCorey Hadnot II5Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons
- ReboundsMikale Stevenson6Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons
Recent form
Youngstown State Penguins
Last 10: 6-4Streak L378.5 scored · 69.7 allowed per game5-2 at home
- L79-94at Northern Kentucky NorseJan 4
- L83-85vs Oakland Golden GrizzliesJan 1
- L68-73vs Detroit Mercy TitansDec 29
- W74-65vs South Carolina Upstate SpartansDec 20
- L77-80at Robert Morris ColonialsDec 18
- W103-52vs Thiel TomcatsDec 14
- W78-55at IU Indianapolis JaguarsDec 6
- W69-68vs Wright State RaidersDec 3
- W87-64vs Chicago State CougarsNov 28
- W67-61vs Georgia Southern EaglesNov 24
Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons
Last 10: 7-3Streak W176.9 scored · 74.5 allowed per game1-2 away
- W74-71vs Cleveland State VikingsJan 4
- L54-72vs Green Bay PhoenixJan 1
- L55-77at Milwaukee PanthersDec 30
- W72-69at Notre Dame Fighting IrishDec 21
- W81-77vs Detroit Mercy TitansDec 14
- W80-65vs Eastern Michigan EaglesDec 11
- W79-77vs Northern Kentucky NorseDec 6
- L92-101at Oakland Golden GrizzliesDec 4
- W92-59vs Holy Cross (IN) SaintsNov 28
- W90-77vs Chicago State CougarsNov 26
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wright State | 23-12 | - | 15-5 |
| Robert Morris | 22-11 | 2 | 13-7 |
| Green Bay | 18-15 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Detroit Mercy | 17-15 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Oakland | 16-16 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Purdue Fort Wayne | 17-15 | 4 | 11-9 |
| Northern Kentucky | 20-14 | 5 | 10-10 |
| Youngstown State | 15-17 | 7 | 8-12 |
| Milwaukee | 12-20 | 7 | 8-12 |
| Cleveland State | 11-22 | 9 | 6-14 |
| IU Indianapolis | 7-25 | 12 | 3-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons | Youngstown State Penguins |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 22-53 | 25-60 |
| Field goal % | 42 | 42 |
| Three-pointers | 10-24 | 8-27 |
| Three-point % | 42 | 30 |
| Free throws | 17-22 | 11-14 |
| Free throw % | 77 | 79 |
| Rebounds | 31 | 41 |
| Offensive rebounds | 9 | 15 |
| Defensive rebounds | 22 | 26 |
| Assists | 14 | 12 |
| Steals | 9 | 7 |
| Blocks | 4 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 11 | 16 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 15 | 15 |
| Fast-break points | 13 | 6 |
| Points in the paint | 22 | 34 |
| Fouls | 14 | 16 |
| Largest lead | 6 | 5 |
| Lead changes | 16 | 16 |
| Time in front | 50 | 36 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half39-34Yuval Levin makes layup
- 1st Half39-35Jason Nelson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half39-36Jason Nelson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half39-37Cam Polak makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half39-38Cam Polak makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half42-38Mason Shrout makes 26-foot three point jumper (Chris Morgan assists)
- 1st Half42-39Jason Nelson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half42-40Jason Nelson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half42-42Imanuel Zorgvol makes layup (Jason Nelson assists)
- 2nd Half42-43Cris Carroll makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half42-46Cris Carroll makes 25-foot three point jumper (Rich Rolf assists)
- 2nd Half43-46DeAndre Craig Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half45-46Corey Hadnot II makes 4-foot jumper
- 2nd Half45-48Bryson Dawkins makes layup
- 2nd Half46-48Mikale Stevenson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half47-48Mikale Stevenson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half47-50Bryson Dawkins makes layup
- 2nd Half49-50Corey Hadnot II makes 14-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half49-52Drew King makes layup (Vlad Salaridze assists)
- 2nd Half52-52Mikale Stevenson makes 28-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half52-54Jaiden Haynes makes layup
- 2nd Half55-54EJ Mosley makes 26-foot three point jumper (DeAndre Craig Jr. assists)
- 2nd Half55-57Vlad Salaridze makes 27-foot three point jumper (Rich Rolf assists)
- 2nd Half58-57DeAndre Craig Jr. makes 26-foot three point jumper (Corey Hadnot II assists)
- 2nd Half58-60Cris Carroll makes 26-foot three point jumper (Rich Rolf assists)
- 2nd Half59-60DeAndre Craig Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-60DeAndre Craig Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half61-60Maximus Nelson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half61-62Rich Rolf makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half62-62Corey Hadnot II makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-62Corey Hadnot II makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half65-62Corey Hadnot II makes layup
- 2nd Half68-62Maximus Nelson makes 23-foot three point jumper (Corey Hadnot II assists)
- 2nd Half68-63Cris Carroll makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-63Yuval Levin makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-65Imanuel Zorgvol makes 1-foot alley oop dunk (Drew King assists)
- 2nd Half69-67Cris Carroll makes layup
- 2nd Half69-69Imanuel Zorgvol makes 2-foot dunk
- 2nd Half70-69Corey Hadnot II makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-69Corey Hadnot II makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Youngstown State Penguins, below favours Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons.
Venue
- Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly CenterYoungstown, OH
- Attendance1784
- OfficialsSteve McJunkins, Chad Barlow, John Hendricks
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond