Hawaii Pacific, TCU Cancel Basketball Game After Player’s Death

Tragedy stuck college basketball this week.

Hawaii Pacific University and TCU were scheduled to play a game in Honolulu on Friday night, but the schools chose to cancel the game after Emil Isovic, a 21-year old guard for Hawaii Pacific, died at the hospital Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.

Isovic, a native of Sweden, collapsed on the bench during a first-half timeout during the Sharks’ Dec. 18 game against Southern Nazarene. Isovic was taken to a hospital but never regained consciousness, per the AP. Authorities have not released a cause of death.

“Under the current circumstances, it was not appropriate to play the game. Our thoughts and prayers are with Hawaii Pacific and the basketball team at this time,” TCU officials wrote in a statement Thursday night, via CBS Sports.

“We all mourn the loss of Emil, who was both a gifted athlete and a wonderful friend,” Hawaii Pacific athletic director Sam Moku wrote in a letter to students Wednesday night, via CBS. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his parents, Nedzad and Sanela, his brother Dino, and everyone who knew and loved him.”