DeKALB — COVID-19 concerns have pushed upcoming games for the men’s and women’s basketball teams into the new year as four games have been postponed.

The women’s basketball team’s home matchup against the University of Akron Wednesday at 1 p.m. was the first of four postponements announced Tuesday afternoon in an NIU Athletics press release.

Men’s basketball saw a majority of the effects of Tuesday’s announcement as the next three games on their schedule have been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns within their program.

The women’s team was set to open Mid-American Conference play against Akron following the cancellation of a Dec. 21 game against Colorado State University.

The men’s team was also set to begin their MAC schedule, hosting Ball State University Wednesday at 4 p.m. as part of a doubleheader behind the women’s team. Their following games against Akron on Saturday and the University of Buffalo on Tuesday have also been postponed.

The announcement comes in the midst of a spike in COVID-19 cases amongst collegiate and professional sports. Multiple leagues have been forced to postpone or cancel games in light of multiple players and employees testing positive for the virus.

The U.S. is currently experiencing a weekly average of approximately 240,000 positive cases, according to CDC data.

The Huskies will now look ahead to the next matchups on their schedule as both teams will head on the road for the next games on their respective schedules.

The women’s team will travel to Mount Pleasant, MI to challenge Central Michigan University in a New Year’s Day matchup Saturday at noon. The men’s team will travel to Toledo, Ohio a week later to take on the University of Toledo on Jan. 8 at 1 p.m.