NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana's men's and women's basketball teams have withdrawn from this week's Hoops in Hawaii Holiday Classic.
        XULA Vice President Curtis Wright said Tuesday that a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases on campus would prevent the Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets from competing in the Honolulu tournament.
        "Our students and staff are tremendously saddened by this decision," Wright said. "However, we have to make responsible public health decisions not only for our community, but also for the other students and staff participating in the tournament."
        XULA announced Sunday that all student-related co-curricular activities would be halted, and that all remaining semester exams would occur online. The final day of exams is Wednesday.
        Canceled were XULA men's games against Hawaii Pacific and West Virginia State and women's games against Northwest Indian and Cedarville. They were scheduled for Friday and Saturday, and they were to be XULA's final games this month.
        XULA Executive Director of Athletics and Recreation Nathan Cochran said spectators would not be admitted to XULA's first four basketball home playing dates in January. Games affected are:
        •  Jan. 4 — men vs. Fort Lauderdale.
        •  Jan. 6 — women and men vs. Huston-Tillotson.
        •  Jan. 8 — women and men vs. Our Lady of the Lake.
        •  Jan. 9 — men vs. Arkansas Baptist.
        The first day of spring-semester classes will be Jan. 10.