YOUNGSTOWN — There’s an extra layer that comes once Horizon League play begins. The games have more significance for postseason hopes come March, plus there’s an added physicality and grittiness required against teams that have plenty of familiarity with one another.

Youngstown State needed both of those and then some on Wednesday night, as the Penguins fought off Wright State in a 69-68 victory to open up conference play.

“Just really proud of our guys for finding a way to pull one out,” head coach Ethan Faulkner said. “These games are all going down to the wire. It’s going to be back-and-forth in most of these Horizon League games. That’s the history of our league. That’s what it tells us.

“I did not think we played particularly well, and a lot of the credit goes to Wright State. I’m

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