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Horizon League Basketball: Youngstown State rises in latest power rankings

By Tristan Freeman

Dec 22, 2021; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Youngstown State Penguins players talk during the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 22, 2021; Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; Youngstown State Penguins players talk during the first half against the West Virginia Mountaineers at WVU Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /
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Detroit Mercy Titans guard Antoine Davis The Butler Bulldogs Taks On The Detroit Titans In Ncaa Basketball Action
Detroit Mercy Titans guard Antoine Davis The Butler Bulldogs Taks On The Detroit Titans In Ncaa Basketball Action /

6. Detroit Mercy Titans – 4-7 (2-0)

After a rough 0-6 start to the season, the Titans have since won four out of the last five, including road wins over IUPUI and Illinois-Chicago to start off league play, giving them an early advantage in the standings going forward. And although they’re reportedly going on pause this week, the team is set up for a string of very winnable home games coming up.

All eyes are on star scoring guard Antoine Davis (22.2 ppg and 5.2 apg), who is set to soon become the program’s all-time leading scorer in the next couple of games. But just as important has been the emergence of Madut Akec, who averaged 21 ppg in Detroit Mercy’s two recent wins over Central Michigan and Western Michigan. On the season, the 6’9 forward is averaging 15.9 ppg and 8.5 rpg and is the only other player outside of Davis to average more than 7.0 ppg. So as important as Davis always is, so is Akec in terms of the Titan’s hopes of winning.

5. Purdue-Fort Wayne Mastodons  – 5-5 (1-1)

The Mastodons have been up and down throughout the non-conference but overall have shown major improvement compared to their first year as a Horizon League program. The defense, although still a work in progress, certainly has improved and they have one of the better scoring offenses in the conference as well.

Senior guard Jarred Godfrey has been playing at an all-star level (17.7 ppg and 4.4 apg), including a career-high 35 points in an overtime loss to Western Michigan. Seniors Jalon Pipkins (14.1 ppg) and forward RA Kpedi (11.1 ppg and 7.2 rpg) are the other key pieces to Purdue-Fort Wayne’s offense, while Deonte Billups, Damian Chong-Qui, and Bobby Planutis are the other rotation players that contribute on offense. It’ll be interesting to see where the Mastodons stand in league play if the defense continues to improve.