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Saturday’s showdown between No. 1 Gonzaga and No. 2 Baylor was called off less than two hours before tipoff amid COVID-19 issues.

Two members of the Gonzaga group that traveled to play the neutral-site game in Indianapolis tested positive — one of them a player. Gonzaga said the player did not appear in the Bulldogs’ win over West Virginia on Wednesday.



“In consultation with the Indiana State Health Commissioner, the Marion County Public Health Director, and both team physicians, Gonzaga and Baylor have mutually agreed today’s game will not be played,” a joint statement from the schools read.

Gonzaga, Baylor hope to reschedule game

The teams said they hoped to reschedule the game for later in the season.

“We’re disappointed to not be able to play one of the most-anticipated games of the season, but we are following the advice of public health officials,” said Baylor coach Scott Drew and Gonzaga coach Mark Few in a jointly issued statement.

“When we decided to play during a pandemic, our priorities were protecting the health and safety of student-athletes and following public health guidelines, and we’re proud of how both programs have held true to these promises. There are much greater issues in this world than not being able to play a basketball game, so we’re going to continue praying for everyone who has been affected by this pandemic.”



Gonzaga (3-0) previously held two players out of its game against Auburn after one player tested positive and the other was deemed a close contact. At Baylor, Drew tested positive and missed the first two games of the season.

Gonzaga is next scheduled to host Tarleton State on Tuesday. Baylor (3-0) is slated to host Nicholls State on Tuesday.

–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)