Former Gannon coach Jerry Slocum completed his second consecutive winning season at Youngstown State at 17-15 following the Penguins’ elimination in the Horizon League playoffs. YSU received a bid to the CTI tournament, and defeated Oakland 99-87 before losing in overtime at home to Canisius 84-82, surrendering a 22-point lead early  in the second half.

The 18-16 record was the best since the 1990s, and YSU did not have a winning season for 11 seasons until going 16-15 in 2011-12. The CTI tournament was the first postseason action for the Penguins since 1977. The 61-year-old is 92-152 at Youngstown.

Slocum came to YSU in 2005 after coaching Gannon for nine seasons (179-86, the last six clubs making the NCAA Division II tournament. He previously was a successful coach at Geneva College and Nyack. He  has a record of 673-476 in 38 seasons.

Former Mercyhurst Prep star Josh Chojnacki was a reserve junior center with the club, seeing limited playing time.

Assistant coaches Mike Wernicki and Brian  DePaoli are from Erie.

– Bob Jarzomski