University of Colorado officials closed their basketball arena to the public Wednesday night because of weather-related hazards, forcing its men’s basketball team to play in an empty building during an 84-73 win Dec. 17 against Portland State.
Colorado made the announcement before the game as wind gusts reached an estimated 96 mph near Boulder, whipping up debris, snapping trees and endangering travelers.
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“Due to high winds, power outages around Boulder, and potentially hazardous road conditions, tonight’s men’s basketball game against Portland State will be played without fans,” the announcement stated. “The CU Events Center will be closed to the public.”
The Buffaloes proceeded to improve to 10-1 by generating their own energy in what felt like a closed scrimmage or throwback to the 2020-21 season, when fans weren’t allowed at games because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Freshman guard Isaiah Johnson came off the bench to score 20 points.
“Kind of a weird night tonight for the Buffaloes,” Colorado coach Tad Boyle said afterward.
Boyle jokingly added that he’d like to petition the NCAA to rule the game as a neutral-site contest instead of a home game.
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“I doubt if I’ll win that, but it might help our NET ranking,” he said.
The university said fans with paid tickets to the game would be issued a single-use promo code for tickets to the next home game against Northern Colorado on Dec. 28.
Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Colorado basketball played game without fans
