A college basketball game turned into a chaotic scene on Monday as the postgame handshakes escalated into a violent brawl, marking one of the most intense altercations in recent memory.
Key Takeaway
A postgame handshake line turned into a violent brawl after a college basketball game, prompting apologies from both teams and the initiation of a review process that is expected to result in severe consequences.
Wild Brawl Unfolds
The altercation took place following Texas A&M-Commerce’s 76-72 victory over Incarnate Word at the Alice P. McDermott Convocation Center in San Antonio. What began as a customary exchange of “good game” quickly turned hostile as two opposing players became agitated and collided with each other.
Subsequently, the situation rapidly escalated, with players from both teams engaging in physical altercations. Despite the efforts of coaches, staff, and non-combative athletes to intervene, the brawl persisted for at least a minute before the teams were eventually separated.
Aftermath and Apologies
During the altercation, an ESPN broadcast reported that a young girl in the crowd sustained an injury, while a team manager was left bleeding from the face. Following the game, both teams issued a statement addressing the incident, expressing regret for the behavior displayed by their respective men’s basketball programs.
The statement read, “The University of the Incarnate Word 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 continued, emphasizing that such actions have no place in college sports and do not align with the values of the universities involved, as well as the Southland Conference and its member institutions. The statement concluded by acknowledging that the altercation is under review by the conference and both programs, indicating that significant repercussions are likely to follow.
