YOUNGSTOWN — It certainly didn’t feel like an exhibition game on Wednesday night.

With plenty of history between Youngstown State and Akron, the energy on the floor was palpable between the two nearby programs, as the Penguins tipped off the 2025-26 season with a splash.

After trailing by as many as 11 points in the first half, YSU rallied in the second half for an 84-78 victory over the Zips in a preseason exhibition at Zidian Family Arena at Beeghly Center.

“This time of year, and I’m sure their team feels the same way, you’re just really excited to be playing against somebody else,” head coach Ethan Faulkner said.

“If you think about it, we’ve been practicing for five months, and we got to play one game, and that was a (closed) scrimmage game a couple weeks ago. So obviously a lot o

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