Sophomore guard Anders Nelson and St. Johns’ Jubie Alade battle in February’s MIAC championship game. The teams’ Saturday Sweet 16 game will no longer allow general spectators following an NCAA announcement driven by concerns over COVID-19. (Kat Barrett/TommieMedia)
General spectators will not be allowed to attend Saturday’s Tommie-Johnnie men’s basketball game in Collegeville, Minnesota, following an NCAA announcement Wednesday afternoon that was driven by concerns over COVID-19.
NCAA president Mark Emmert said the NCAA has been consulting public health officials about the virus.
“Based on their advice and my discussions with the NCAA Board of Governors, I have made the decision to conduct our upcoming championship events, including the Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, with only essential staff and limited family attendance,” Emmert said in the statement.
St. John’s confirmed Wednesday evening that the NCAA announcement applies to Saturday’s Sweet 16 matchup between the Tommies and Johnnies in the NCAA Division III men’s basketball tournament.
Parents and immediate family members of Tommie and Johnnie players will still be allowed to attend the game, along with media members, St. John’s University said in a release.
The game will be livestreamed online on the St. John’s athletics website.
The St. Thomas men’s hockey team is scheduled to compete this weekend in Lake Forest, Illinois. St. Thomas Assistant Athletic Director Tyler Grey said Wednesday evening the university was still waiting to learn whether the NCAA attendance decision would apply to that game.
Emily Haugen and Justin Amaker contributed to this report.