BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Bawa Muniru has been practicing with the Indiana basketball team since this summer.

Now, he can play in the games, too.

Muniru, a 6-11, 260-pound freshman center from Tumu, Ghana, learned Thursday he had been cleared to play this season by the NCAA Eligibility Center. Muniru’s case had been in the NCAA system since early in the summer.

“I wasn’t concerned or worried; it was just the matter of time,” Muniru said. “Time was the biggest factor. But I feel like a big burden has been lifted off my shoulders. I am glad that this thing is over.”

IU’s six freshmen are eligible to play in Monday’s second exhibition game against St. Joseph’s College.

“We are excited for Bawa as he can now move forward with his energies completely focused on his academic and athletic career at Indiana,” said coach Tom Crean, who thanked IU’s compliance and eligibility staff that worked on Muniru’s behalf.

Muniru is expected to challenge Tom Pritchard, Bobby Capobianco and Derek Elston for minutes.