A huge brawl broke out after Texas A&M-Commerce’s 76-72 win over Incarnate Word as the two teams shook hands on Monday night.
The shocking scenes occurred as players of both basketball teams lined up to shake hands by the bench following the end of the overtime thriller.
Still It’s unclear what sparked the fight in the handshake line, but it involved multiple players from both squads throwing punches at one another. Coaches and players from each team tried to separate the brawling players, but the fracas continued for more than a minute as members of the two programs scuffled across the court.
The fight went on for over a minute and moved from the sidelines to the middle of the court:
There were several players on the floor and multiple pileups as the fight continued. Broadcast analysts said a “young girl” in the crowd was hurt as a result of the row and that one of the team’s managers had “blood on his face,” though there was no immediate information from authorities or the schools on injuries.
Some Incarnate Word players looked to be headed toward the locker room before running back onto the court as punches started to be thrown.
The melee involved multiple players and went on for over a minute, moving from the sidelines to the middle of the court.
ESPN announcers reported that a “young girl” in the crowd got hurt and that one of the team’s managers had “blood on his face” in the aftermath of the brawl.
The two programs later released a joint statement condemning the violence:
“UIW and Texas A&M University-Commerce apologize for the behavior exhibited by our respective men’s basketball programs following the game on Monday night,” it read.
“The unsportsmanlike conduct that occurred after the game does not reflect the values of the universities involved, as well as the Southland Conference and their member institutions.
“The matter is currently being reviewed collectively by the Conference office and both institutions.”
The Southland Conference confirmed the incident was under investigation.
The Southland Conference is aware of the end-of-game situation that occurred between the Texas A&M University-Commerce and the University of the Incarnate Word men’s basketball teams tonight,” the conference said in a statement.
“We will be working closely with both universities to review the footage and issue appropriate disciplinary action.
“Unsportsmanlike behavior is unacceptable in the Southland Conference and the safety of our student-athletes, coaches, spectators, and officials remains a top priority.”
Texas A&M-Commerce’s Alonzo Dodd scored a game-high 20 points while Kalen Williams knocked down a go-ahead 3 with 13 seconds left to secure the win for the Lions.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the post-game brawl between Texas A&M-Commerce and Incarnate Word basketball teams marred what should have been a celebration of the sport. The incident, which escalated quickly during the handshake line, reflects poorly on the sportsmanship and values of both universities. While investigations are underway and disciplinary actions are expected, it serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining composure and respect on and off the court. Moving forward, both teams and the Southland Conference must work to ensure such unsportsmanlike behavior is swiftly addressed and prevented in the future, prioritizing the safety and integrity of the game.
