YOUNGSTOWN — Seventy points. That’s what the Youngstown State University men’s program gives up per game.

The Penguins have one of the best defensive teams in the Horizon League this season. Only Oakland, at 63 points, and Northern Kentucky, at 65, have better defenses than YSU.

Newcomer Christian Bentley, a junior guard, was indoctrinated into the Penguins’ schematics last summer as YSU coach Jerrod Calhoun harped on having a more defensive-oriented team. YSU gave up 80 to 90 points per game in the past couple of seasons.

“Coach preached how we haven’t been the greatest on defense,” said Bentley, whose team faces Southeast Missouri State on Sunday, starting at 8 p.m. “He wanted to change the things we do and the culture here and really lock in on defense. All summer and preseason we worked on our defense. That’s been what’s holding us up in a lot of games this year.”

It was no different in Saturday’s 66-64 loss at Western Michigan.

A couple of plays here and there prevented YSU (5-5) from pulling off a victory, but there were some positive aspects.

“We started to do a lot of things we did in practice and what coach has been preaching to us all season,” Bentley said.

The Penguins also have become a more cohesive group for Calhoun and his staff as they are in their third season at YSU.

“The great thing about this group of guys is they’re not pointing the finger,” Calhoun said. “They’re staying togerther, had a nice work day today, very businesslike, very competitive.”

Sunday’s game starts a three-game stretch in Youngstown. YSU follows up against Binghamton on Dec. 18 and plays West Virginia on Dec. 21 at the Covelli Centre.

SEMO (3-6) comes in with a narrow loss to Drake (8-2) after holding a late lead, similar to what happened to YSU at Western Michigan — losing a 5-point lead with 3 minutes remaining. The Penguins lost on a last-second lay-up by the Broncos.

Calhoun said his team is focused on what it can do better this week. Practices on Friday and Saturday are either going to be in the Stambaugh gyms or at a nearby high school because the Beeghly Center will be set up for graduation this weekend.

“You’ve got to have some short-term goals right now and not look ahead at that game and just try to focus on us,” Calhoun said.

One of those goals is improving on offense. YSU has averaged about 72 points per game.

Bentley said the team’s defense could help in that progression.

“If we keep working hard on defense and do what we’re supposed to do, it’s going to translate to quick, easy buckets on the other end,” he said. “Good defense leads to good offense.”