After COVID-19 issues within Elon’s men’s basketball program forced the postponement of its game with UNC, the Tar Heels have found a new opponent to host on Saturday in the Dean Smith Center.

UNC announced on Thursday that it will host NC Central on December 12 at 2 p.m. in Chapel Hill. The game will be televised on the Regional Sports Network.

NC Central is 1-2 on the season, having lost to Iowa and Central Carolina but beating Southern. NC Central was scheduled to play Vanderbilt on Friday, but that game was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.

Elon previously paused all in-season activities due to a positive COVID-19 test within its Tier 1 personnel group, which includes student-athletes, coaches, and support staff.

“As we have said since the onset of COVID, the safety of our student-athletes is paramount and we will follow the guidance of our medical staff in making these decisions,” Elon Director of Athletics Dave Blank said at the time. “We will continue to monitor the situation and make arrangements that will return our team to practice and competition when it is safe to do so.”

Per UNC, the university is working with Elon to reschedule the game next season.

Photo via ACC Media

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