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YOUNGSTOWN -- Francisco Santiago's mind is on his game, but his heart is with his family miles away.
The Youngstown State University men's basketball senior point guard has uncles, aunts and cousins in Puerto Rico, which was ravaged by Hurricane Maria almost a month ago. Drinking water is among the necessities in short supply.
The hurricane devastation has put a damper on Santiago's grandmother, who is from Puerto Rico and has siblings there.
"I know a lot of people have talked about it, but there hasn't been a lot of attention toward it," Santiago said. "It kind of feels like the family back on the island isn't a part of us because it really hasn't been treated that way like Houston or Florida. It means a lot that we're doing this."
What is being done is a scrimmage at Beeghly Center Tuesday night with the proceeds going to hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico, Houston and Florida. The Penguins will face Thiel College beginning at 7:30. The cost of admission is $5, with all proceeds going to the relief efforts.
"Anybody who comes to this game will be helping families out across the country," YSU coach Jerrod Calhoun said. "I think that's the neat thing the NCAA did."
The NCAA permitted basketball teams to play a third scrimmage this preseason, provided the proceeds were used for hurricane relief.
The scrimmage will help YSU prepare for the upcoming season, which starts Nov. 11 when YSU takes on Kent State at the University of Akron in the annual Northeast Ohio Coaches vs. Cancer Basketball Doubleheader. Tip off is at 9 p.m., at the James A. Rhodes Arena.
Th scrimmage against Thiel will help the YSU team as well with more game experience and with officials, especially as the Penguins become acclimated to the new uptempo offense and pressure defense.
"Officials are going to be crucial to the way we play with all the fouling we're doing at practice," Calhoun said. "It'll be probably be a foul fest next Tuesday. We'll try to clean that up this week. It gives our coaches a chance to see our guys in the spotlight. Practice is much different than the game.
"It'll give us a chance to evaluate and look at our depth chart."
YSU has two more scrimmages on the following two weekends prior to season opener.
Tuesday's game is not only beneficial to YSU's progress, but helps those in need. It's something Calhoun would like to be a part of in the coming years.
"I think it gived our guys a great chance to put on the uniform," he said. "Hopefully we'll get a lot of fans. It's certainly a good date. There's no football. It gives you an extra opportunity to play somebody, get some film, getting your guys on film and make adjustments and see who needed help in certain areas. We're excited about it.
"Going forward, hopefully the NCAA allows us to do this every year. If we had a third game and it went to charity, what better thing to not only help your student-athletes to help prepare for your games, but also all the different organizations out there. I think it's a win-win for the student-athletes. I think it's a win-win for the charities."
UPDATE ON SANTIAGO: The YSU senior point guard went light on Monday and did more toward the end of practice.
He suffered a bruised, hyperextened knee on his right leg during the offseason. Santiago is wearing a protective brace, which he'll have all season.
The YSU starting point guard knows he can't just go full go at the onset. He'll have to gradually get back into things on the floor.
"The whole thing is I'm not a lion out of his cage and go out there and think I can do what I've been accustomed to doing," Santiago said. "Taking my time and letting it come to me."
With each practice, he's getting back to where he once was.
"Just going to take my time. I want to get there mentally," Santiago said. "Nov. 11 is right around the corner. As long as I get my mentality up and feel comfortable playing, that's what I'm trying to get to."