Men’s basketball home opener postponed because of COVID-19 protocol
After starting the season 1-1 on the road, coach Mick Cronin and UCLA men’s basketball won’t be back in Pauley Pavilion for a few more days after its game against Long Beach State was postponed Monday. (Andy Bao/Daily Bruin)
By Taiyo Keilin
Nov. 30, 2020 5:07 p.m.
The Bruins’ home opener has been postponed just hours before tipoff.
UCLA men’s basketball (1-1) was scheduled to host Long Beach State (0-0) at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, but the game was called off, with the team citing “an abundance of caution based on COVID-19 protocol within the Long Beach State program.”
No makeup date has been announced yet.
This is the first time the men’s program has experienced a schedule change this season, while UCLA women’s basketball has had three of its games postponed, with the Nov. 29 cancellation potentially awaiting a rescheduled date.
The Bruins played their first two games of the season last week in San Diego, splitting the contests with a loss to San Diego State and a triple-overtime win over Pepperdine. UCLA’s next four scheduled games are all at Pauley Pavilion – including its first Pac-12 game against California on Dec. 6 – and the Bruins aren’t scheduled to hit the road again until Dec. 19.
Throughout the Pac-12, other schools have had to cancel men’s basketball games as well. California and Arizona have each had a game postponed because of COVID-19 testing and protocols.
UCLA football has also dealt with its share of last-minute changes. The Bruins’ home opener opponent was switched less than two days before the game was supposed to happen.
Barring a rescheduling of the Long Beach State game, the next time UCLA takes the court will be against Seattle Thursday at home.
