UConn departed Bubbleville earlier than expected after a positive COVID-19 test within North Carolina State's program forced the cancellation of Saturday's non-conference basketball game at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

The Huskies headed back to the Storrs campus in the morning.

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Gazelle Group, which ran Bubbleville, announced the news about the cancellation late Friday night.

All members of the NC State program received a negative test result prior to leaving for Connecticut and they were tested again upon arriving at the Mohegan Sun and cleared to play for Thursday's game against UMass Lowell, according to a press release.

Following NCAA protocols, NC State took another test Friday 24 hours before the scheduled noon time game against UConn and that resulted in a positive finding.

UConn's next game could be as early as Monday but has yet to be announced.

Earlier this week, coach Dan Hurley talked about trying to schedule another game on Monday as a tuneup for Friday's Big East Conference opener against St John's in Storrs. Whether that happens depends on if he can find the right dance partner, Hurley said.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported on Saturday that No. 19 Richmond was exploring scheduling a game at UConn for Monday. The Spiders had their last two games postponed when three members of the program — not players — tested positive.

"Both schools' medical staffs are reviewing their respective records," Richmond coach Chris Mooney told the Times-Dispatch.

But the proposal ran into a roadblock when health officials failed to agree, according to Andy Katz, a national college basketball reporter and analyst.

So UConn was left searching for another option.

The Huskies planned on playing three non-conference games at Mohegan Sun, but ended up only facing Southern Cal on Thursday. They posted a 61-58 victory to improve to 3-0.

UConn saw its Legends Classic game on Tuesday canceled by its opponent, Vanderbilt, for COVID-19 reasons.

Bubbleville hosted 26 college basketball games over a 10-day stretch, starting on Nov. 25.

g.keefe@theday.com