WKU men’s basketball and Samford will be playing an additional exhibition that will raise money for hurricane relief efforts this weekend, WKU has announced. 

 

The exhibition, being called the “Pack the Pete for Hurricane Relief,” will be in Birmingham, Alabama in the Pete Hanna Center. It is one of several exhibitions across the country that the NCAA has approved for charity contributions. The proceeds will go to the Red Cross Hurricane Irma Relief Fund, according to a WKU press release. 

 

Admission for the game is free, but Samford is requesting a $10 donation for the hurricane relief efforts. The stadium will be open to fans at noon. 

 

This is the first game against another team for WKU this season. It’s one of now three exhibitions that the Hilltoppers will play before opening regular season play. The other two exhibitions will be in Diddle Arena, one against Campbellsville on Nov. 1 and one against Cumberland University on Nov. 7. 

 

The first official exhibition of the season means it’ll be the first look at a WKU roster that features a lot of newcomers and just one returning starter, senior forward Justin Johnson. 

 

WKU has played Samford eight times in program history, and the Hilltoppers are 8-0 in those matchups. The last game between the two was in 2013, and ended 67-64. 

 

Last year, Samford recorded its first 20-win season (and first winning season) in over a decade, going 20-16.