CINCINNATI — As COVID-19 plays havoc with the sports schedule around the state of Ohio, one team managed to find a new opponent less than 24 hours before a scheduled tip. The Cincinnati Bearcats are now scheduled to take on the Ashland Eagles Saturday at 1 p.m.

Texas Southern, Cincinnati’s original opponent for Saturday, was unable to make the trip due to COVID-19 protocols. Saturday’s basketball game was among one of many being altered amid a surge in coronavirus cases. 

In Ohio alone, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Cleveland Browns had their scheduled games for Saturday postponed due to the pandemic. Cleveland State’s contest against No. 2 Duke was scrapped. Ohio State’ scheduled matchup with Kentucky was canceled. 

Like Cincinnati, Kentucky managed to find a new opponent albeit with a higher profile — North Carolina.

Ashland, which plays at the Division II level, has never faced Cincinnati in the past, and has not had a regular season game against a Division I opponent in more than two decades. The Eagles defeated Division I opponent Valparaiso in a preseason exhibition, 87-78, on Oct. 30. 

Tickets for the originally scheduled game for Saturday will still be honored.