BYU Basketball WCC Opener At Pepperdine Postponed Due To COVID-19
Dec 30, 2020, 4:58 PM | Updated: 5:21 pm
Brigham Young Cougars guard Connor Harding (44) drives the ball down the court in Provo on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020. BYU defeated the Pepperdine Waves 107-80. (Ivy Ceballo, Deseret News)
(Ivy Ceballo, Deseret News)
PROVO, Utah – For the first time this season, COVID-19 has caused a postponement on the BYU Basketball schedule. Thursday’s West Coast Conference opener at Pepperdine is postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test within the Waves program.
Pepperdine announced that they would be pausing due to the positive COVID-19 test.
BREAKING: @BYUbasketball’s game at @PeppBasketball on Thursday has been postponed.#BYU #GoCougs #BYUHoops pic.twitter.com/VDN2jhmV0V
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 30, 2020
BYU athletics issued a statement on the postponement: “Due to a positive Pepperdine COVID-19 test and in following contact tracing protocols, tomorrow’s men’s basketball game between BYU and Pepperdine has been postponed.”
The next scheduled game for BYU is Saturday, January 2nd, against the University of San Diego. Tip-off for Saturday’s game against the Toreros is at 6 p.m. (MT).
The West Coast Conference will work with both programs and broadcast partner, ESPN, to find an alternate date for the contest.
Statement from #BYU on Pepperdine game:
"Due to a positive Pepperdine COVID-19 test and in following contact tracing protocols, tomorrow’s men’s basketball game between BYU and Pepperdine has been postponed."#BYUHoops @kslsports
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) December 30, 2020
BYU wrapped up the non-conference portion of its schedule last week with a 9-2 record. The Cougars are currently receiving votes in the Associated Press Top 25
This is the first game in the 2020-21 season that BYU Basketball has had postponed. The Cougars are only one of a handful of teams that have been able to get 11 games played already. Due to the novel Coronavirus pandemic, the NCAA changed the minimum requirements to qualify for postseason play to 13 games. BYU is two games away from meeting that minimum threshold.
BYU Basketball upcoming schedule
Dec. 31 – at Pepperdine, POSTPONED
Jan. 2 – at San Diego, 6 p.m. (Stadium & KSL NewsRadio)
Jan. 7 – PACIFIC
Jan. 14 – at Saint Mary’s
Jan. 16 – at San Francisco
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m., KSL Newsradio). Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper and the KSL Sports app.
