BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference announced on Thursday that its basketball conference tournaments are canceled. In addition, the MAAC's entire slate of spring sports are also canceled. Canisius College and Niagara University are both member institutions.
The decision came down from the conference itself and its Council of Presidents according to a press release. The MAAC cites its "ongoing commitment to the health and safety of our student athletes and athletic department representatives" as reasoning for the cancellation.
Baseball, softball, men's & women's lacrosse, and outdoor track and field are among the spring sports that the MAAC will halt on Friday.
"We are in unprecedented and rapidly-evolving situation as the nation and each of our campuses address this epidemic. The Canisius Athletic Department fully supports measures taken by the MAAC Council to protect the health and welfare of our student-athletes, coaches and staff," Canisius Director of Athletics Bill Maher said.
"I know this is a great disappointment to our student-athletes and coaches, whose hard work and dedication to their sports and Canisius College is appreciated by so many, but this decision was made with best interests of the MAAC, our campuses and broader community in mind," Maher said.
"The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and Niagara University fully supports all measures to protect the health, safety and welfare of our student-athletes," NU said in a statement Thursday.
