West Virginia postponed its men’s basketball home opener Dec. 2 because a member of Youngstown State’s “inner bubble” tested positive for covid-19 and forced the Penguins to pause team activities.

Through contact tracing, Youngstown State determined members of the men’s basketball program were close contacts and will be quarantined to monitor their health. The Penguins canceled their games for the week of Nov. 25-29, delaying the start of their season.

“As we experience an unprecedented year in college athletics and across the entire country due to the covid-19 pandemic, we continue to keep the health, safety and welfare of our student-athletes and staff first and foremost,” YSU athletic director Ron Strollo said in a statement.

The No. 15 Mountaineers will open the season with an ESPN-televised game against Northern Iowa at 2 p.m. Nov. 25 in the first game of the Bad Boy Mowers Crossover Classic in Sioux Falls, S.D. West Virginia and Youngstown State are hoping to reschedule for later in December.

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