UC, Ohio State to play exhibition game in support of mental health

Game is part of a series that also includes Dayton vs. Xavier exhibition
Cincinnati's Wes Miller coaches during a game against Dayton on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, at the Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati. David Jablonski/Staff

Credit: David Jablonski

Credit: David Jablonski

Cincinnati's Wes Miller coaches during a game against Dayton on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, at the Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati. David Jablonski/Staff

The Cincinnati Bearcats and Ohio State Buckeyes men’s basketball teams will play a charity exhibition game Oct. 18 to raise awareness about the importance of adolescent and young adult mental health and suicide prevention initiatives.

The game is the latest effort made by college basketball programs to support mental health charities since the death of Dayton Flyers coach Anthony Grant’s daughter Jay, 20, by suicide in 2022.

Dayton and Xavier will play their own charity exhibition game on Oct. 20 with the same goals. Last October, Dayton played Ohio State at UD Arena in the first charity exhibition game played to benefit mental health charities.

CareSource will sponsor both games. The game last year raised approximately $500,000

“Chris and I continue to be inspired by generosity and support from others who want to join us in helping raise awareness, generate conversation and increase access to mental health services in all communities,” Grant said in a press release. “We are grateful for CareSource, the other head coaches and all the partners who have joined this important effort. We can make a difference together with our collective visibility.”

Last year, three days before the exhibition game against Ohio State, UD hosted an event titled “The Spotlight, To Shine A Light On Mental Health” at UD Arena last October.

“When CareSource saw the power and impact of the inaugural game and events in Dayton last year, we immediately felt more people should hear the life-changing messages around mental health and breaking the stigma,” said Scott Markovich, executive vice president, markets and products at CareSource, in a press release. “Whole-person wellness is a core part of CareSource’s mission, and it’s an honor to support our communities’ health and wellbeing by expanding awareness and resources through these games. We work to make a real, meaningful impact on the communities and members we serve, and our work with Jay’s Light is another way we are doing that.”

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