Because of dangerous and potentially worsening road conditions after sundown, tonight’s scheduled basketball game between North Carolina and NC State at the Smith Center has been postponed. The game will now be played at 1 p.m. on Sunday with television coverage on ESPN. The decision was made after Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency for this evening, urging people to stay off the roads because of the threat of continued sub-freezing temperatures that could make for hazardous driving and pedestrian conditions, “Considering the travel conditions we are not comfortable with the idea that thousands of people, from the players, coaches and officials to fans of both teams and the hundreds of people that staff the Smith Center for the game, would be leaving the arena tonight after 10 p.m.,” UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham said in a statement announcing the postponement. “The ACC policy of playing if the teams and officials can get to the arena also takes into consideration all the appropriate people getting home safely as well, and when you weigh the risks associated with people being on the roads late tonight versus playing tomorrow afternoon, the correct decision is to postpone the game.”State athletic director Debbie Yow, in a statement of her own, didn’t necessarily agree the decision not to play the game as scheduled.”We were prepared to travel to Chapel Hill for this evening’s game since both teams and the officials were available,” she said via the release. “While we are disappointed in the postponement, we look forward to playing tomorrow.” Tickets for tonight’s game will be honored on Sunday. Doors to the Smith Center will open for fans at 11:30 a.m. The Carolina Basketball Museum will be closed on Sunday.
