Despite widespread wildfire damage in northwest Los Angeles, all Big West men’s and women’s basketball games scheduled for Thursday are scheduled to be played as of Wednesday night, BWC Commissioner Dan Butterly said. told Spectrum News.
This includes Hawaii’s men’s game at UC Riverside, scheduled for 5 p.m. Hawaii time. Riverside is located east of Los Angeles.
Multiple wildfires remained out of control Thursday morning, with thousands of structures damaged or destroyed and at least five people reported dead.
In the Big West, centered around Southern California, the men’s game will be played at Cal State Northridge, a few miles north of the fire site, while the women’s game will be played at Cal State Irvine and Cal State Fullerton in the southeast. It will be held on campus.
“We are fully on track. I have not been informed of any immediate threats or concerns by any of our member institutions,” Buttery said in a message.
The UH arrived in Los Angeles late Tuesday after a fire broke out amid high winds. UC coach Eran Ganot told Spectrum News in a message Wednesday that the team’s plane encountered turbulence just as it approached Southern California.
“The pilots did a great job on landing,” Ganot said.
He did not discuss other issues related to preparations for the game against the Rainbow Warriors, who are 9-5 (1-2 in the Big West). UC Women’s University hosts UC Riverside on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Stan Sherif Center.
Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. Contact him at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.
