|
The
Youngstown State men’s basketball program entertained a Holiday Regular-Season
Tournament during two periods in school history. The first run of the YSU
Classic was from 1973-74 through 1978-79 while the second run was from 1986-87
through 1991-92.
In the tournament’s history, YSU posted an 18-6 overall
record winning the event six times. Youngstown State won Classic titles in 1973,
1974, 1976, 1977, 1986 and 1987. On five occasions the Penguins finished second
and one time (1988) finished third by winning the consolation game. In
tournament first-round games, Youngstown State had an 11-1 mark.
In 1973-74, Cleveland State, YSU, Georgia State, and
Tennessee Tech comprised the field of the inaugural “Youngstown State University
Holiday Tournament.” The Penguins defeated Cleveland State 84-81 to capture the
championship with YSU’s Tony Mitchell - a freshman - was named the Most Valuable
Player for his efforts.
The Holiday Tournament during Coach Dom Rosselli’s days would
last for six full seasons, until the 1978-79 tournament. The Penguins captured
four of the six championship crowns and finished runner-up on the other two
occasions.
The idea of a Holiday basketball classic eventually faded and
was dropped from the scene, but it was resurrected during Coach Mike Rice’s
final season in 1986-87 when the Youngstown Area Chamber of Commerce in
conjunction with YSU brought back the idea and it became known as the Greater
YSU Holiday Classic. The Penguins won that first crown, defeating Bucknell (an
NCAA participant later that postseason) 77-70 behind Most Valuable Player Tilman
Bevely.
The Holiday Classic ended after the 1991-92 season.
All-Time YSU Holiday Classic Championship Results
Dec. 28-29, 1973
Semifinal Round
Cleveland State 76, Tennessee Tech 71
Youngstown State 87 Georgia State 79
Final Round
Championship: Youngstown State 84, Cleveland State 81
Consolation: Tennessee Tech 64, Georgia State 59
MVP: Tony Mitchell, Youngstown State
Dec. 27-28, 1974
Semifinal Round
Samford 63, Baltimore 62
Youngstown State 70, Missouri-Rolla 68
Final Round
Championship: Youngstown State 83, Samford 77
Consolation: Missouri-Rolla 63, Baltimore 59
MVP: Jeff Covington, Youngstown State
Dec. 19-20, 1975
Semifinal Round
Akron 57, St. Francis (Pa.) 54
Youngstown State 79, SIU-Edwardsville 62
Final Round
Championship: Akron 64, Youngstown State 62
Consolation: St. Francis (Pa.) 78, SIU-Edwardsville 69
MVP: James Abrams, Akron
Dec. 17-18, 1976
Semifinal Round
St. Joseph’s (Ind.),
75, Adelphi 69
Youngstown State 86, CCNY 53
Final Round
Championship: Youngstown State 99, St. Joseph’s (Ind.) 73
Consolation: Adelphi 87, CCNY 65
MVP: Tony Mitchell, YSU
Dec. 28-29, 1977
Semifinal Round
Baltimore 85, Armstrong State 62
Youngstown State 70, Buffalo State 60
Final Round
Championship: Youngstown State 71, Baltimore 59
Consolation: Armstrong State 98, Buffalo State 92
MVP: Jeff Covington, YSU
Dec. 29-30, 1978
Semifinal Round
St. Francis (Pa.) 72, Kent State 63
Youngstown State 69, Delaware State 52
Final Round
Championship: St. Francis (Pa.) 70, Youngstown State 67
Consolation: Kent State 58, Delaware State 55
MVP: Dave Zeigler, YSU
Note: Tournament
play was discontinued from 1979-80 through 1985-86 seasons. Tournament returned
for 1986-87 season as Greater Youngstown Holiday Classic and was also known as
the YSU Holiday Classic. Final tournament was held during the 1991-92 season.
Dec. 5-6, 1986
Semifinal Round
Youngstown State 76, Florida A&M 68
Bucknell 65, Jackson State 64
Final Round
Championship: Youngstown State 77, Bucknell 70
Consolation: Jackson State 59, Florida A&M 46
MVP: Tilman Bevely, YSU
Dec. 29-30, 1987
Semifinal Round
Youngstown State 48, Eastern Washington 47
Radford 73, South Carolina State 62
Final Round
Championship: Youngstown State 73, Radford 64
Consolation: Eastern Washington 75, South Carolina State 72
MVP: Jim Gilmore, YSU
Dec. 29-30, 1988
Semifinal Round
Prairie View A&M 84,
Youngstown State 74
Coppin State 88, Houston Baptist 60
Final Round
Championship: Coppin State 72, Prairie View A&M 70
Consolation: YSU 81, Houston Baptist 72
MVP: Reggie Isaac, Coppin State
Dec. 21-22, 1989
Semifinal Round
Youngstown State 93,
Nicholls State 79
Central Michigan 77, Appalachian State 69
Final Round
Championship: Central Michigan 67, Youngstown State 66
Consolation: Appalachian State 83, Nicholls State 66
MVP: Carter Briggs, Central Michigan
Dec. 21-22, 1990
Semifinal Round
Youngstown State 89,
Alabama State 87
Delaware State 96, Liberty 73
Final Round
Championship: Delaware State 104, Youngstown State 96
Consolation: Alabama State 67, Liberty 59
MVP: Emanual Davis, Delaware State
Dec. 13-14, 1991
Semifinal Round
Youngstown State 76,
Buffalo 72
Western Illinois 76, Canisius 75
Final Round
Championship: Western Illinois 65, Youngstown State 59
Consolation: Canisius 77, Buffalo 63
MVP: John Blalock, Buffalo |
