The Howard University men’s basketball team has called off the remainder of its abbreviated 2020-21 season.
The Bison never made to 2021, as they got just five games in before the program was put on pause in mid-December due to issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. They never returned, announcing Tuesday that “Howard University Athletics has made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of the Men’s Basketball 2020-21 season out of abundance of caution due to health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The rest of Howard’s teams will continue competing, while the men’s basketball team ended with a 1-4 record in a season capped by an 81-76 home win over Hampton on Dec.18.
"We had several team members test positive in January, and were forced to place the program on hold, cancel several games and finally cancel our season. It was and remains the right thing for us to do," Howard men's basketball head coach Kenneth Blakeney said. "Ultimately, our number one priority is to ensure the health and safety of our student-athletes, both mentally and physically. Canceling the season is in the best interest of the team at this time."
According to the Washington Times, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference also saw the Bethune-Cookman and Maryland-Eastern Shore men’s basketball teams opt out of the season before it started. Howard’s women’s team has had several games postponed, but carries a 9-3 record into Friday’s game against Delaware State.
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