University of Dallas basketball team heads to London after $60K travel setback

Players say the experience taught them one big lesson: Never give up.

After months of uncertainty and a fundraising push to overcome a loss of more than $60,000, the University of Dallas men's basketball team is headed to London.

According to the school, the team left Thursday and will play its first game in London Saturday.

The trip was thrown into doubt in April after the team's travel agency filed for bankruptcy, costing the team more than $60,000.

Matt Grahn, head coach of the Crusaders, said the program made two $30,000 payments to Go Play LLC before the company notified customers it was ceasing operations.

The company cited reduced bookings and increased cancellations “due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East,” according to an email sent to customers.

“Please know that GoPlay did not make this decision lightly and explored several options to avoid this outcome, including refinancing, raising new capital, and a potential sale of the business. Unfortunately, GoPlay has been unable to identify a way to continue operating,” the email said.

A summer fundraising push ultimately helped save the journey, including a $30,000 donation from Mark Cuban.

Players say the experience taught them one big lesson: Never give up.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC DFW. AI tools helped convert the story into a digital article, and an NBC DFW journalist edited it again before publication.