YSU, Thiel play for charity

October 24, 2017 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Call it a win-win for Youngstown State’s mens basketball team.

The Penguins get to play a live opponent in the Beeghly Center tonight to prepare for the season and raise money for charity.

YSU is joining approximately 40 other Division I schools that have received a waiver from the NCAA to host an extra exhibition game to support relief efforts from hurricanes Irma, Harvey and Maria.

Typically, schools are allowed two exhibition games a year, which can be games against lower-level teams that are open to fans or scrimmages between D-I schools that are closed to the public. YSU is facing D-III Thiel College tonight. According to the NCAA, all net proceeds from the game must go to charity and the school must identify the charity.

“These games have raised a lot of money,” Penguins first-year head coach Jarrod Calhoun said. “When Kansas and Missouri played (on Sunday), they raised close to $2 million.”

The Penguins will trot out a starting five of point guard Jeremiah Ferguson, guards Cameron Morse and Braun Hartfield, and forwards Tyree Robinson and Devin Haygood.

Hartfield, a sophomore, is looking to graduate from being a part-time starter into having the full-time gig.

“I want to have a better year — a winning year,” Hartfield said. “I learned a lot from the older guys last year. We had some hard times and we have to build on those hard times.”

Robinson, as well as senior guard Francisco Santiago, will play tonight, but be on limited minute, Calhoun said. Santiago is still recovering from a left-knee injury and Robinson recently had his wisdom teeth pulled. Freshman Naz Bohanon will see time in Robinson’s spot.

Other players to watch are freshman forward Michael Akuchie, freshman guard Garrett Covington and junior forward Noe Anabir.

“Plenty of guys are going to play,” Calhoun said. “You’ll see me subbing guys off five at a time. It will almost look like a hockey game.”