Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Micah Shrewsberry Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Penn State-VCU game Saturday canceled due to COVID-19

The Penn State Nittany Lions and VCU Rams' men's basketball programs have suffered their first casualties of their 2021-2022 regular-season schedule.

"The health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, staff and the broader community are of the utmost importance. Therefore, as part of the protocols established by the Big Ten Conference and Penn State Athletics medical staff, and in consultation with University, local and national officials and guidelines, individuals with a positive test have been put into isolation," a release reads. "In addition to isolation, contact tracing procedures have been implemented, which includes testing for those individuals who might have been exposed. ... The status of future games will be determined at a later date."

Penn State is off to a 5-5 start this season, most recently falling to Michigan State 80-64 on Saturday. They are scheduled to face Quinnipiac at 5 p.m. ET on Dec. 22.

VCU is 7-4 and has won four in a row, including a 66-46 victory against Florida Atlantic on Wednesday. The Rams are slated to take on New Hampshire at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

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