Duke vs. Albany Basketball Game Canceled Due to North Carolina LGBT Law

The Duke men's basketball team's Nov. 12 Hall of Fame Tipoff tournament game against Albany has been canceled due to New York state's opposition to a North Carolina law focused on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

According to ESPN.com, Albany backed out of the game because New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has banned publicly funded, nonessential travel to North Carolina in protest of the law.

The law in question is known as House Bill 2 (HB2), and it requires transgender people to use restrooms in relation to the gender on their birth certificates rather than their gender identity. It also limits anti-discrimination protection of the LGBT community.

While the Blue Devils do not yet have a replacement opponent, it is reportedly expected that Marist will take Albany's place since it is a privately funded school.

Duke athletic director Kevin White expressed concern regarding the law to ESPN.com on Thursday: "It's most unfortunate. As an institution, if not personally, we have gone on the record indicating that our state position on this (HB2) is very troubling, if not embarrassing."

In addition to Albany's withdrawal, the law has placed the 2016-17 NBA All-Star Game in jeopardy.

Per the Associated Press (via NBA.com), commissioner Adam Silver continues to mull the possibility of removing the game from Charlotte due to the league's stance against the law.

According to ESPN.com, it is expected that a formal Nov. 12 replacement opponent for Duke will be determined within a week.

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