UNLV men’s basketball cancels second straight game

UNLV men’s basketball canceled its Monday game against Pepperdine because of a positive COVID-19 test in the program, giving the team two cancellations in the last six days.

The Rebels had a positive result during routine testing Monday. UNLV previously canceled its schedule game against Eastern Washington on Dec. 9 after a member of the program tested positive.

The team’s next scheduled game is its Mountain West opener at Wyoming on Dec. 20. The Rebels (1-4) will also play the Cowboys on Dec. 22 as part of the conference’s new scheduling format this season.

UNLV isn’t the only program being affected by the virus. CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein said Monday that 30 college basketball teams have paused team activities. The game against Pepperdine was one of five that were postponed or canceled Monday, out of 21 scheduled Division I games.

“Every practice we have, every opportunity together, every chance that we have to play, we really need to treat that (well) and hold it in a high regard, because you just don’t know what’s coming next,” UNLV coach T.J. Otzelberger said Friday.

The men’s basketball team isn’t the only team on campus to lose games. The football program had two cancellations during coach Marcus Arroyo’s first season.

The men’s basketball cancellations come as the virus continues to spread in Nevada. Clark County’s death toll from COVID-19 surpassed 2,000 Monday.

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