UNLV basketball game canceled after positive coronavirus test

The UNLV men’s basketball game against Eastern Washington on Wednesday has been canceled after a member of the program tested positive for COVID-19.

The Eagles were notified before traveling to Las Vegas for the 6:30 p.m. game at the Thomas & Mack Center. The Rebels are next scheduled to host Pepperdine on Monday and travel to Wyoming for games Dec. 20 and 22.

This is UNLV’s first cancellation of the season and the second for Eastern Washington. It comes during a record spike in coronavirus cases in Nevada, including a record-high two-week positivity rate that state officials reported Sunday.

The UNLV football team had games canceled at Colorado State on Nov. 21 and at Boise State on Dec. 4 as cases surged.

The Rebels also aren’t the only basketball team grappling with schedule changes because of the pandemic. Of the 52 Division I men’s games scheduled for Tuesday, four were canceled and five postponed.

UNLV coach T.J. Otzelberger said before the season his team would have to be adaptable.

“We don’t know what’s coming,” Otzelberger said before the season opener. “There are probably going to be games canceled to COVID-19 one way or the other. There are going to be things moved around. We’re not going to be able to control any of that.”

It’s a problem for all coaches, as cases are spiking across the country. Iona coach Rick Pitino recently pleaded for the season to be delayed because of the scheduling challenges.

“I’ll say it again, to anyone who will listen, push the season back to March, and then have May Madness,” Pitino tweeted Nov. 23, before his team had a game canceled Dec. 3. “Give the Vaccine a chance. In the best interest of all involved!”

Contact Ben Gotz at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BenSGotz on Twitter.