Florida Gulf Coast pauses, postpones four games due to COVID-19

The men's basketball program of the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles will have to wait to begin their Atlantic Sun Conference season. 

FGCU announced on Wednesday that a home series against the North Alabama Lions scheduled for Friday and Saturday and a series versus the Liberty Flames set for Jan. 8-9 have been postponed due to a positive COVID-19 test result and subsequent contact tracing within the Tier 1 group of the Eagles. 

The 14-day quarantine period will shift FGCU's ASUN opener to Jan. 15, when the Eagles will face the Bellarmine Knights. Those two teams will also play each other the following day. FGCU coach Michael Fly said in the prepared statement:

"While we are disappointed not to be playing this week, this is an unfortunate scenario that has played out through all of college sports this year. I appreciate all the work our Athletics Sports Medicine unit, the University medical staff, and the Florida Department of Health have done to keep our student-athletes and staff safe. We will undertake the appropriate measures so that we can return to play following the 14-day period."

Conference commissioner Ted Gumbart added: 

"Every missed opportunity to compete disappoints us. We want our student-athletes to play. Postponing play is the safe and responsible step, but always disappointing. We have plans to adjust and will work throughout the season to maximize the playing options for all ASUN student-athletes."

The Eagles won five of their first seven games of the season but haven't competed since a 73-60 victory over the Georgia Southern Eagles on Dec. 22.