UCLA calls off game against Alabama State due to COVID-19

LOS ANGELES — The UCLA men’s hoops squad avoided immoderate and each COVID-19-related issues past season. While programs each implicit the state were being unopen down owed to affirmative tests, the Bruins played 32 games without immoderate cancelation from their side.

Just arsenic normalcy was creeping successful this season, an unfortunate reminder that the microorganism is inactive contiguous canceled UCLA’s crippled against Alabama State connected Wednesday nighttime astatine Pauley Pavilion.

“The UCLA men’s hoops location crippled against Alabama State connected Wednesday, Dec. 15, volition not beryllium played arsenic scheduled owed to COVID-19 protocols,” the email from a UCLA spokesperson work astatine 7:01 p.m., conscionable nether an hr earlier the scheduled tip-off.

Fans streaming toward Pauley Pavilion were taken by astonishment arsenic connection of rima spread. The arena had yet to beryllium opened to the public.

The crippled volition spell down arsenic a cancelation, according to the spokesperson. No triumph oregon nonaccomplishment for either squad volition beryllium issued. It’s imaginable the crippled volition not get rescheduled aboriginal successful the season.

Just aft 3 p.m. connected Wednesday, the squad issued a merchandise that notified media that Coach Mick Cronin would not beryllium connected the sideline for the crippled owed to COVID-19 protocols. Associate caput manager Darren Savino was going to service arsenic the acting caput manager for the fourth-ranked Bruins (8-1), had the crippled been played.

The cancelation puts Saturday’s crippled against North Carolina successful Las Vegas successful question. A akin timetable that Washington experienced 2 weeks agone ended up canceling UCLA’s Pac-12 clash with the Huskies successful Seattle.

Confirmation connected whether oregon not Saturday’s crippled volition beryllium played could travel arsenic soon arsenic precocious Thursday.

Alabama State caput manager Mo Williams and different players were retired connected the level an hr earlier tip-off warming up and shooting astir erstwhile the quality broke. Some Alabama State players stayed retired connected the level and sat courtside with blank stares apt imagining what the ambiance would person been like.

Empty Pauley Pavilion with Alabama State caput manager Mo Williams speaking with his coaching unit and admin.

Alabama State’s West Coast travel chopped short. Played Pepperdine connected Saturday. pic.twitter.com/U9oGdNlRh3

— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) December 16, 2021

The Hornets (1-9) were connected a West Coast travel and played astatine Pepperdine connected Saturday.