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The NIU men’s basketball team on Friday announced three more games will be postponed as its pause of team activities will continue past its initial seven days.
Originally announced Tuesday, the extension Friday will postpone games Jan. 26 at Bowling Green, Jan. 30 against Eastern Michigan and Feb. 2 at Western Michigan.
The pause is related to positive COVID-19 tests and subsequent contact tracing.
“Our guys are disappointed,” interim coach Lamar Chapman said in a statement. “The guys want to play, they want to be back in the gym, in the weight room and be around their teammates competing. They’re a little bummed out about that, but there’s not a whole lot we can do. We have to follow protocol and get everybody healthy before we can all come back together.”
The men are 2-10 on the year and 1-6 in the MAC. Their last game was Jan. 16, a 78-58 loss at Ball State.
The women’s team has also had issues with scheduling, having its game Saturday at home against Kent State delayed due to the Golden Flashes’ COVID issues.
The women are next slated to play Jan. 27 at Akron, while the men are scheduled to go next at home Feb. 6 against Central Michigan.