TOREROS PAUSE A 3RD TIME

USD paused its men’s basketball program from all activity for the third time on Friday because of COVID-19 related issues and canceled its home game today against BYU.

The university did not state how long the pause would last.

Executive Director of Athletics Bill McGillis said via text that the school would know more about the status of upcoming games “early next week,” an indication that the current pause may not last 14 days.

USD first paused its program for 14 days on Nov. 20 because of a positive COVID-19 test within the program. The Toreros paused the program a second time on Dec. 20 because of what it called “a COVID-19 related concern.”

The second pause lasted one day, resulting in a game at Arizona being canceled. The Toreros (1-4, 0-1 West Coast Conference) have had three games canceled and one postponed.

USD’s next scheduled game is Thursday at home against Saint Mary’s.

UCSD also pauses

Because of a positive COVID test involving the Cal State Northridge men’s program, UC San Diego’s games against the Matadors on Jan. 8-9 at RIMAC Arena have been canceled.

Per conference policy, these games will not be rescheduled.

The Tritons first-ever game as a member of the Big West Conference will have to wait at least another week. Last week, the scheduled conference opener at Cal Poly was canceled because of a COVID-related pause with the Mustangs.

UC San Diego (2-0 overall, 0-0 Big West) is now scheduled to begin Big West play Jan. 15 at UC Santa Barbara.