The Youngstown State men's basketball team just arrived in the Bahamas for a three-game foreign tour, Aug. 8-13, in Atlantis - Paradise Island, Bahamas. This is the Penguins' first foreign tour in more than 15 years.
Games in the tour will be played at the Kendal G.L. Isaacs National Gymnasium against select basketball club teams in the Bahamas. The Penguins are slated to play the Patron Regulators on Sunday Aug. 9, at 4 p.m. the CTG Knight on Monday, Aug. 10, at 9 p.m. and the Real Deal Shocker, Tuesday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m. In addition to the three games, YSU's travel party will enjoy some sight-seeing and many activities, including Dolphin Cay and Paradise Beach.
Fans can listen to each game on 570 WKBN AM or follow the live stats of each contest: YSU vs. Patron Regulators | YSU vs. CTG Knights | YSU vs. Real Deal Shockers.
The games will be played using international (FIBA) rules which differ from the college game. International rules feature four 10-minute quarters and jump balls. The international game also uses a 24-second shot clock, different than the new college 30-second clock. Players are also allowed to touch the ball on or above the rim cylinder.
Per NCAA rules, the Penguins were allowed to conduct 10 practices prior to their departure. The NCAA allows for a foreign trip by a school once every four years and student-athletes can participate only once in their collegiate careers. Games must be against teams outside the USA.
The last time the Penguins participated in a foreign trip was in 1999.
The 2015-16 Penguins are led by senior Bobby Hain, who averaged a career-best 14.6 points per game and became the 36th player in YSU history to score 1,000 career points. He has 1,026 career points.
The Penguins also return sophomores Cameron Morse and Sidney Umude and junior Tyler Warford. YSU is also looking to integrate nine newcomers and redshirts. Junior Jorden Kaufman, sophomores Francisco Santiago and Ryan Strollo, and redshirt-freshman Bryce Nickels all sat out the 2014-15 season. The Penguins also welcome juniors Matt Donlon and Brett Frantz, both junior-college tranfers, and freshmen Jordan Andrews, Latin Davis and Devin Haygood.
Check YSUsports.com for more updates of the trip. You can also follow @YSUSports on Twitter and Facebook.com/ysusports for more updates and photos.
