BOZEMAN -- The Montana State men's basketball team will have to continue waiting to start Big Sky Conference play.
The Bobcats were informed Tuesday that their games with Southern Utah scheduled for Dec. 31 and Jan. 2 have been canceled. According to a media release from Montana State, "the Thunderbirds' men's basketball team is unable to participate in competition at this time, due to one or more individuals being identified as either needing to quarantine or isolate due to COVID-19."
The Bobcats and Thunderbirds were slated to play two games at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in Bozeman. The games will not be rescheduled.
A media release from Southern Utah cited a "positive COVID-19 test result amongst their Tier 1 individuals" in the men's basketball program.
"While we are sad that our men's basketball team will not be able to head out on the road this weekend, I am glad that we are putting the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches and opponents first," SUU director of athletics Debbie Corum said in the release. "Our team has had the best start we've ever seen here at Southern Utah, and we're very anxious to get them back on the court as soon as possible, but will make sure we're taking all the necessary precautions to do so."
SUU is 7-1 overall and 2-0 in Big Sky play after earning a sweep of Montana in early December. MSU, meanwhile, has yet to play a conference game. The Bobcats (2-3 overall) are next scheduled to play at Northern Colorado on Jan. 7 and Jan. 9.
The Montana State women are playing at Southern Utah this weekend with games on Dec. 31 and Jan. 2.
