New Mexico basketball teams head to Texas to avoid virus restrictions

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico’s men’s and women’s basketball teams are temporarily relocating to Texas due to coronavirus restrictions in their home state.

Athletic Director Eddie Nunez said the men’s program will set up at South Plains College in Lubbock.

The women will move to Amarillo and practice at West Texas A&M in nearby Canyon.

Both areas also have some of the highest rates of COVID-19 per 1,000 cases in the state, the Texas Tribune reported.

New Mexico is under a twoweek shutdown of nonessential businesses, which started Monday, in an attempt to curb coronavirus spread.

The basketball season is set to start this week, but neither program has announced a nonconference schedule yet.

The Mountain West Conference moved to a 20-game schedule this season with two-game series between the same teams.

The basketball relocations come three weeks after the football team temporarily relocated to the Las Vegas area to play its season. The Lobos played their first game in Las Vegas last weekend.

New Mexico State’s men’s basketball program arrived in Phoenix this week for practice and games. Its women’s program is expected to practice in Tucson, Arizona, and play at a variety of locations.

Under New Mexico health guidelines, athletic departments currently do not allow games or workouts exceeding five people. Anyone who travels from outside the state also must quarantine for 14 days.