Youngstown State Defeats South Carolina Upstate 74-65
Saturday, December 20, 2025, 1:00 PM ET · Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center
Youngstown State Penguins 74, South Carolina Upstate Spartans 65, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
The next free pick, for your email
Team, bet, price and the hash it was sealed under, on this page the moment you send. Lose or win, it stays public.
or by email
Public record of the main pick, losses included: 115 won, 44 lost. See every pick
One free pick a day by email until you unsubscribe, in one click. 21+.
Quick answers
Who won South Carolina Upstate Spartans vs Youngstown State Penguins?
Youngstown State Penguins beat South Carolina Upstate Spartans 74-65 at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center on December 20, 2025.
Who was favored in South Carolina Upstate Spartans vs Youngstown State Penguins?
Youngstown State Penguins were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -325 (about 76% implied). The favorite won.
In a compelling matchup at the Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center, the Youngstown State Penguins secured a 74-65 victory over the South Carolina Upstate Spartans. This win marks an important moment for Youngstown State, who improved their home record to 6-1 this season. The Penguins have shown a strong performance at home, averaging 82.8 points in their last five games, while allowing only 63.8 points. Conversely, the Spartans have struggled on the road, with a 1-5 away record this season, and their recent form shows a scoring average of 80.2 points over their last five games, but they have allowed 72.0 points per game.
In terms of recent form, Youngstown State entered the game with a record of 6-4 over their last ten outings, but they were coming off a loss against Robert Morris, which snapped a four-game winning streak. The Penguins had previously defeated teams such as Thiel and IU Indianapolis, showcasing their offensive capabilities, highlighted by a 103-point performance against Thiel. The Spartans, on the other hand, were riding a two-game winning streak, having recently defeated Southern Wesleyan and South Carolina State. Their performance has been more balanced, with an average of 75.4 points scored and 73.2 points allowed in their last ten games.
The two teams had met once before in the current season, with Youngstown State winning that encounter 72-64 on December 21, 2024. This previous victory likely provided the Penguins with added confidence heading into this rematch.
In terms of injuries, the block does not provide specific details, but both teams would have been keen to field their best players for this crucial game. The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Youngstown State favored by 6.5 points, with a total set at 141.5. The odds reflected a strong belief in the Penguins' home advantage, as indicated by a moneyline of -325 for Youngstown State and +260 for South Carolina Upstate.
The game conditions appeared favorable for both teams, with no adverse weather or venue issues reported. As the game unfolded, Youngstown State maintained control, particularly in the second half, where they executed key scoring plays to extend their lead. Notably, Cris Carroll was instrumental in sealing the victory, making several crucial free throws in the closing moments of the game. The Penguins' ability to convert free throws under pressure was a decisive factor in their success.
As the final whistle blew, Youngstown State had solidified their dominance at home, while South Carolina Upstate faced challenges in maintaining their momentum on the road. The Penguins' victory not only boosts their confidence but also enhances their standing as they continue their season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | YSU -6.5 | 141.5 o -108 / u -112 | South Carolina Upstate Spartans +260 · Youngstown State Penguins -325 |
Leaders
- PointsCris Carroll27Youngstown State Penguins
- AssistsCris Carroll5Youngstown State Penguins
- ReboundsCris Carroll7Youngstown State Penguins
- PointsKarmani Gregory26South Carolina Upstate Spartans
- AssistsTyler Smith3South Carolina Upstate Spartans
- ReboundsTyler Smith8South Carolina Upstate Spartans
Recent form
Youngstown State Penguins
Last 10: 6-4Streak L181.3 scored · 67.7 allowed per game5-0 at home
- 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
- L62-68at UNC Greensboro SpartansNov 23
- L75-92at Toledo RocketsNov 20
- L80-84at St. Bonaventure BonniesNov 15
- W115-53vs Penn State Shenango Nittany LionsNov 10
South Carolina Upstate Spartans
Last 10: 5-5Streak W275.4 scored · 73.2 allowed per game1-4 away
- W98-63vs Southern Wesleyan WarriorsDec 18
- W78-72at South Carolina State BulldogsDec 16
- L62-80at North Carolina Tar HeelsDec 13
- W78-67vs Western Carolina CatamountsDec 6
- W85-78vs Coastal Carolina ChanticleersDec 4
- L63-72at Nebraska CornhuskersNov 29
- W82-67vs North Carolina Central EaglesNov 26
- L64-72at West Georgia WolvesNov 22
- L84-88vs Tennessee Tech Golden EaglesNov 20
- L60-73at UNC Wilmington SeahawksNov 16
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Point | 31-5 | - | 15-1 |
| Winthrop | 23-11 | 2 | 13-3 |
| Radford | 16-16 | 6 | 9-7 |
| Longwood | 16-16 | 7 | 8-8 |
| UNC Asheville | 15-17 | 7 | 8-8 |
| Presbyterian | 15-18 | 8 | 7-9 |
| Charleston Southern | 15-17 | 9 | 6-10 |
| South Carolina Upstate | 13-19 | 10 | 5-11 |
| Gardner-Webb | 4-29 | 14 | 1-15 |
| 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 | South Carolina Upstate Spartans | Youngstown State Penguins |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 21-53 | 23-54 |
| Field goal % | 40 | 43 |
| Three-pointers | 4-15 | 8-23 |
| Three-point % | 27 | 35 |
| Free throws | 19-25 | 20-29 |
| Free throw % | 76 | 69 |
| Rebounds | 34 | 37 |
| Offensive rebounds | 8 | 10 |
| Defensive rebounds | 26 | 27 |
| Assists | 6 | 14 |
| Steals | 2 | 11 |
| Blocks | 3 | 5 |
| Turnovers | 14 | 13 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 7 | 11 |
| Fast-break points | 11 | 0 |
| Points in the paint | 28 | 30 |
| Fouls | 21 | 18 |
| Largest lead | 1 | 15 |
| Lead changes | 2 | 2 |
| Time in front | 2 | 97 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half38-44Karmani Gregory makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half38-45Bryson Dawkins makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half38-47Rich Rolf makes driving layup
- 2nd Half39-47Learic Davis makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half40-47Learic Davis makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half42-47Karmani Gregory makes layup
- 2nd Half43-47Carmelo Adkins makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half44-47Carmelo Adkins makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half44-49Tae Blackshear makes layup (Cris Carroll assists)
- 2nd Half44-50Tae Blackshear makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half46-50Karmani Gregory makes driving layup
- 2nd Half46-52Cris Carroll makes 7-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half47-52Learic Davis makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-52Learic Davis makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half48-55Cris Carroll makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jason Nelson assists)
- 2nd Half48-56Jason Nelson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-58Jason Nelson makes driving layup (Cris Carroll assists)
- 2nd Half49-58Karmani Gregory makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half49-60Rich Rolf makes layup (Cris Carroll assists)
- 2nd Half51-60Karmani Gregory makes 13-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half54-60Karmani Gregory makes 26-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half54-62Rich Rolf makes layup (Cris Carroll assists)
- 2nd Half56-62Mason Bendinger makes driving layup (Tyler Smith assists)
- 2nd Half56-63Drew King makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-64Drew King makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-65Imanuel Zorgvol makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-66Imanuel Zorgvol makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-66Mason Bendinger makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-66Mason Bendinger makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-67Jason Nelson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-67Mason Bendinger makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-67Mason Bendinger makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-68Cris Carroll makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-68Karmani Gregory makes driving layup
- 2nd Half62-70Cris Carroll makes driving layup
- 2nd Half62-72Vlad Salaridze makes driving layup
- 2nd Half62-73Cris Carroll makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-74Cris Carroll makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-74Karmani Gregory makes layup
- 2nd Half65-74Karmani Gregory makes free throw 1 of 1
Win probability
Above the line favours Youngstown State Penguins, below favours South Carolina Upstate Spartans.
Venue
- Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly CenterYoungstown, OH
- Attendance3041
- OfficialsRod Mrakovich, Ian Caldwell, Tony Meeks
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