Cleveland State Edges Youngstown State in Close Contest
Saturday, January 17, 2026, 2:00 PM ET · Wolstein Center
Cleveland State Vikings 80, Youngstown State Penguins 78, 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 Youngstown State Penguins vs Cleveland State Vikings?
Cleveland State Vikings beat Youngstown State Penguins 80-78 at Wolstein Center on January 17, 2026.
Who was favored in Youngstown State Penguins vs Cleveland State Vikings?
Youngstown State Penguins were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -375 (about 79% implied). The underdog won.
In a thrilling matchup at the Wolstein Center, the Cleveland State Vikings narrowly defeated the Youngstown State Penguins with a final score of 80-78. This game was significant not only for its close finish but also for Cleveland State's ability to break a four-game losing streak, improving their record to 7-14, while Youngstown State fell to 9-12.
Cleveland State entered this game with a recent form of 2 wins and 8 losses over their last 10 games, struggling particularly in their last five where they recorded only one win against four defeats. They averaged 80.2 points scored and allowed 87.8 points during this stretch. Their home record stood at 2-3, and they had not won a game away, going 0-5 in that category. In contrast, Youngstown State had a record of 4-6 in their last 10 games, with their most recent performance being a loss to the Wright State Raiders. Their scoring average was 81.3 points with an average of 72.9 points allowed, indicating a relatively strong offensive output compared to their defensive struggles.
The matchup was particularly interesting given the teams' previous encounters. Cleveland State had a record of 1-2 against Youngstown State in their last three meetings, having lost the last two games. The most recent match prior to this one took place on March 11, 2025, where Cleveland State lost by just two points, 54-56. This history added an extra layer of intensity to the game, as both teams were looking to assert their dominance in the series.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any players missing for either team, which meant both sides were likely fielding their strongest lineups. This was crucial for Cleveland State, who needed all hands on deck to secure a victory against a competitive Youngstown State team.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Youngstown State favored by 8.5 points, with a total set at 152.5. This indicated that the expectation was for a high-scoring game, which was reflected in the final score. The odds also suggested that Youngstown State was seen as the stronger team going into the matchup, with a moneyline of -375 compared to Cleveland State's +295.
Conditions during the game were typical for indoor basketball, with no adverse weather conditions affecting play. The atmosphere in the Wolstein Center was electric, as home fans rallied behind the Vikings in their quest to end a losing streak.
As the game unfolded, key moments included a series of clutch plays by both teams in the second half. Bryson Dawkins emerged as a pivotal player for Cleveland State, contributing significantly with a three-point jumper that helped maintain their lead. Chevalier Emery also made crucial free throws late in the game, sealing the victory for the Vikings.
Overall, this matchup was a testament to the competitive nature of college basketball, with Cleveland State managing to secure a hard-fought win against Youngstown State. The Vikings will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming games, while Youngstown State will need to regroup and reassess as they continue their season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | YSU -8.5 | 152.5 o -115 / u -105 | Youngstown State Penguins -375 · Cleveland State Vikings +295 |
Leaders
- PointsDayan Nessah26Cleveland State Vikings
- AssistsHolden Pierre-Louis5Cleveland State Vikings
- ReboundsDayan Nessah8Cleveland State Vikings
- PointsCris Carroll21Youngstown State Penguins
- AssistsJason Nelson6Youngstown State Penguins
- ReboundsCris Carroll11Youngstown State Penguins
Recent form
Cleveland State Vikings
Last 10: 2-8Streak L478.4 scored · 83.9 allowed per game2-3 at home
- L73-88vs Green Bay PhoenixJan 16
- L84-94at Detroit Mercy TitansJan 11
- L74-97at Oakland Golden GrizzliesJan 10
- L71-74at Purdue Fort Wayne MastodonsJan 4
- W99-86vs IU Indianapolis JaguarsDec 30
- L71-81vs Milwaukee PanthersDec 21
- L77-101at UAB BlazersDec 18
- W96-52vs Oakland City Mighty OaksDec 14
- L59-71vs Detroit Mercy TitansDec 6
- L80-95at Northern Kentucky NorseDec 4
Youngstown State Penguins
Last 10: 4-6Streak L181.3 scored · 72.9 allowed per game1-3 away
- L83-93at Wright State RaidersJan 16
- W99-61vs Bryant & Stratton (OH) BobcatsJan 9
- L69-71vs Purdue Fort Wayne MastodonsJan 8
- 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
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 | Youngstown State Penguins | Cleveland State Vikings |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 28-73 | 20-39 |
| Field goal % | 38 | 51 |
| Three-pointers | 8-43 | 10-20 |
| Three-point % | 19 | 50 |
| Free throws | 14-16 | 30-39 |
| Free throw % | 88 | 77 |
| Rebounds | 38 | 29 |
| Offensive rebounds | 20 | 4 |
| Defensive rebounds | 18 | 25 |
| Assists | 11 | 15 |
| Steals | 9 | 7 |
| Blocks | 4 | 5 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 15 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 19 | 11 |
| Fast-break points | 18 | 19 |
| Points in the paint | 38 | 18 |
| Fouls | 27 | 17 |
| Largest lead | 9 | 7 |
| Lead changes | 6 | 6 |
| Time in front | 33 | 52 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half51-49Chevalier Emery makes layup (Holden Pierre-Louis assists)
- 2nd Half51-50Dayan Nessah makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-50Vlad Salaridze makes layup (Jason Nelson assists)
- 2nd Half54-50Vlad Salaridze makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-50Vlad Salaridze makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half55-51Chevalier Emery makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-52Chevalier Emery makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half55-53Dayan Nessah makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-54Dayan Nessah makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-54Bryson Dawkins makes driving layup
- 2nd Half58-54Bryson Dawkins makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half58-57Ivan Spirov makes 25-foot three point jumper (Chevalier Emery assists)
- 2nd Half59-57Imanuel Zorgvol makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half59-58Dayan Nessah makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-59Dayan Nessah makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-59Jason Nelson makes 26-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half62-62Tre Beard makes 23-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half62-63Tre Beard makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-64Foster Wonders makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-65Foster Wonders makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half62-66Chevalier Emery makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-67Chevalier Emery makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-67Imanuel Zorgvol makes 1-foot dunk
- 2nd Half65-67Rich Rolf makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-67Rich Rolf makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-68Dayan Nessah makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-69Dayan Nessah makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-69Tae Blackshear makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jason Nelson assists)
- 2nd Half69-72Foster Wonders makes 27-foot three point jumper (Dayan Nessah assists)
- 2nd Half69-73Dayan Nessah makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half69-74Dayan Nessah makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half69-75Dayan Nessah makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-75Bryson Dawkins makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half72-78Chevalier Emery makes 26-foot three point jumper (Dayan Nessah assists)
- 2nd Half74-78Jason Nelson makes 8-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half74-79Dayan Nessah makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half76-79Bryson Dawkins makes driving layup
- 2nd Half77-79Bryson Dawkins makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half78-79Bryson Dawkins makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half78-80Chevalier Emery makes free throw 1 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Cleveland State Vikings, below favours Youngstown State Penguins.
Venue
- Wolstein CenterCleveland, OH
- Attendance1964
- OfficialsRon Tyburski, Jon Campbell, Rodney Markovich
Elsewhere
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- 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