Rogers' 10* Coach's Clinic >>> SIZZLING 12-2 Past 2 Days!
(NCAAB) Youngstown State vs. Ohio State, 12/20/2016 2:00 PM, Score: 40 - 77
Point Spread: -20.00 | -115.00 Ohio State (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: Youngstown State snapped a two game losing streak by defeating Niagara 101-97 in overtime last Wednesday night, evening its record at 6-6. The Penguins travel to Columbus tonight to take on the 8-3 Ohio State Buckeyes, who are 7-1 SU at home, and whose only home loss was a shocking 79-77 overtime setback to Florida Atlantic back on Dec. 6.

Youngstown State: Four of five starters scored in double figures for Youngstown in the win a over Niagara, led by 27 from guard Cameron Morse, who is the team's leading scorer at 23.8 PPG. Point guard Santiago (13.4-4.5-5.1) is the team's second-leading scorer, while the two best frontcourt performers are 6-7 forward Donlan (11.8 & 4.7) and 7-1 center Kaufman (7.4 & 7.2). Youngstown State can score (79.8 PPG) but has trouble stopping people on the defensive end, allowing 81.2 PPG (317th).

Ohio State: Speaking of defense, the Buckeyes held No. 2 UCLA to 10 points under its season average, but it still wasn't enough in an 86-73 loss Saturday out in Las Vegas. Ohio State head coach Thad Matta was pleased with a defensive effort that limited the Bruins to their third-lowest scoring output and their second-worst shooting game (48.4 percent) of the season. "I felt that for stretches there we did a really good job defensively on a great offensive team," Matta told reporters. "The thing that they do is if you make a mistake, they're going to make you pay for it. We had a couple mistakes, which was probably the difference in the game." Marc Loving, Jae'Sean Tate and Keita Bates-Diop combined for 47 points on 20-of-36 shooting against UCLA while the rest of the Buckeyes went 9-of-26 from the floor. Forwards Tate (14.0 & 6.8) and Loving (12.2 & 5.2) are the team's top-two scorers, followed by starting guards Lyle (11.0 & 5.5 APG) and Williams (10.6). 7-0 center Thompson (10.4 & 8.5) comes off the bench, as does the 6-7 Bates-Diop, who just got on the court on Nov 11 and has averaged 9.8 & 4.7 in six games.

The pick: Two of the Buckeyes three losses have come to ranked opponents with the other being the exception, that disappointing home loss to Florida Atlantic. the Buckeyes are 7-1 SU at home, outscoring opponents by 15.1 PPG. That's good enough to make the Buckeyes a 10* play in this one.