YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (Interstat) — The Youngstown State Penguins will seek to avenge a narrow early-January loss when they visit the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in a Horizon League men’s basketball clash on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. The matchup at the Athletics Center O’rena in Auburn Hills, Michigan, features two teams jockeying for position in the conference standings. Oakland (14-11 overall) enters with a slightly better record than Youngstown State (12-12), and holds a psychological edge after an 85-83 victory over the Penguins on Jan. 1. That game, played in Youngstown, was a tight affair indicative of the competitive nature of the series. The rematch promises another compelling battle, highlighted by a duel between two of the league’s top guards. Youngstown State will lean on the hot hand of Cris Carroll. The guard is averaging 21.1 points over his last seven games, including a 34-point outburst against Green Bay on Jan. 22 and a 20-point effort in the Penguins’ most recent outing, a 72-66 home loss to Robert Morris on Feb. 7. His scoring punch will be vital for a Penguins squad that has alternated wins and losses over its past six games. Oakland counters with floor general Brody Robinson, who has been a model of consistency and playmaking. The guard has recorded at least 10 points and four assists in seven consecutive games, including a 24-point, 10-assist double-double in a win at Detroit on Jan. 24. In Oakland’s last game, a 91-78 loss at Cleveland State on Feb. 4, Robinson logged 40 minutes, scoring 22 points with eight assists. The Golden Grizzlies have been strong at home this season and will look to rebound from that defeat to the Vikings. Youngstown State, meanwhile, aims to build on its dominant 90-61 road win at Purdue Fort Wayne from Feb. 4 and steer back to .500 in league play. Thursday’s contest is the first of a critical two-game road swing for the Penguins, who visit Detroit on Sunday. Oakland will hit the road for its next game, a Sunday matchup at Robert Morris.