WEST HAVEN, Conn. - Members of the Southern Connecticut State University men's basketball team traveled to the University of New Haven on Thursday to make sandwiches that were distributed to the Midnight Run organization to help area individuals. The event was part of the collaborative efforts as part of the 'Unity Thru Hoops' event that will take place on Saturday between the Owls' and Chargers' basketball programs.

The 'Unity thru Hoops' event focuses on promoting diversity and fostering an environment of inclusion around the greater New Haven community.

The events will revolve around the basketball teams' Northeast-10 Conference doubleheader on Saturday, December 8 at 1:30 p.m. (women's) and 3:30 p.m. (men's) at New Haven's Charger Gymnasium. Clubs and organizations from both Universities with similar goals are also planning to highlight the diversity of interests and multi-cultural groups on both campuses. On game day, these student organizations will partner and set up information tables in the lobby of Charger Gymnasium to share ideas about unity in a diverse population. Spirit groups from both institutions will perform at halftime during each end of Saturday's twin bill.

Since its inception in the 2010-11 basketball season, New Haven and Southern Connecticut State student-athletes have visited local schools to introduce students to the 'Unity thru Hoops' logo, which emphasizes categories that contribute to diversity such as race, gender, language, religious beliefs, ability, sexual orientation, age and ethnicity.

The 2012 'Unity thru Hoops' partnership continues the annual event which will alternate between the UNH and SCSU campuses every year. The event exemplifies goal five of the NCAA Division II Strategic Plan which states to partner and build collaborative relationships with other organizations to support and enhance the diversity of student-athletes, administrators and coaches at the local, conference and national levels.