Penguins’ Elkins invited to Shrine game

Penguins’ Elkins invited to Shrine game

YOUNGSTOWN

Former Youngstown State center Chris Elkins will join fellow Penguins offensive lineman Kyle Bryant as participants in the East-West Shrine Game.

It is the first time in school history that YSU will have two players in the Shrine Game.

The 89th East-West Shrine Game will be held on Jan. 18 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Elkins had a standout senior campaign for the Penguins and was named second-team All-America by The Associated Press and third-team by The Sports Network. He was a two-time first-team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honoree.

YSU offers discount tickets

YOUNGSTOWN

Youngstown State athletics is offering a special ticket price for Sunday’s men’s basketball game against South Dakota at 2 p.m. at the Beeghly Center.

General admission tickets will cost $1 courtesy of Rulli Brothers.

Fans may purchase tickets at the Beeghly Center ticket office on Sunday. Seating is available starting at 1 p.m.

Regular-priced reserved seating in the lower red sections will be available.

Mooney-South Range basketball postponed

YOUNGSTOWN

Today’s girls basketball game between Cardinal Mooney and South Range has been postponed.

The game has been rescheduled for Jan 20 at Mooney. The junior varsity game will be played at 6 p.m. with the varsity following at 7:30 p.m.

Dupuis needs knee surgery

RALEIGH, N.C.

Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma says top-line forward Pascal Dupuis could miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.

Bylsma said Dupuis will have surgery “in a couple of weeks” to repair his anterior cruciate ligament.

Bylsma says he has no timetable for Dupuis’ return and it’s “likely that it might” end his season.

Dupuis hurt his right knee in a loss at Ottawa on Monday when Senators defenseman Marc Methot hit Sidney Crosby, sending him into Dupuis.

He has seven goals and 13 assists in 39 games.

Hawks’ Horford out indefinitely

ATLANTA

Al Horford, the Atlanta Hawks’ leading scorer and rebounder, is out indefinitely with a torn right pectoral muscle.

Horford left Thursday night’s 127-125 double-overtime win at Cleveland in the first overtime with the injury and did not return. The Hawks say an MRI and examination by Dr. Michael Bernot in Atlanta revealed the complete tear of the muscle.

Hawks general manager Danny Ferry said the team will complete its “due diligence” to determine the next step for Horford.

Horford leads the team with 18.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. Forward DeMarre Carroll is day to day with a sprained right thumb.

Raiders’ Asomugha will retire

ALAMEDA, Calif.

Less than three years after being one of the most prized free agents on the open market, Nnamdi Asomugha’ NFL career is over.

Asomugha formally announced his retirement at the Oakland Raiders’ headquarters, ending his 11-year career at the place he had his most success.

Asomugha made three Pro Bowls and was a two-time first-team All-Pro during his eight seasons with the Raiders when he was considered one of the league’s top cover cornerbacks.

But his career quickly fizzled after signing a $60 million, five-year contract with Philadelphia in the summer of 2011. He was cut after two years with the Eagles and played just three games this season for San Francisco before being released in November.

Staff report