Brawl erupts in handshake line after college basketball game in Texas

It's unclear what sparked the fight, but it progressive aggregate players from some squads throwing punches astatine 1 another.

SAN ANTONIO -- A monolithic brawl broke retired pursuing Texas A&M-Commerce's 76-72 triumph astatine Incarnate Word connected Monday arsenic the teams started shaking hands.

It's unclear what sparked the combat successful the handshake line, but it progressive aggregate players from some squads throwing punches astatine 1 another. Coaches and players from each squad tried to abstracted the brawling players, but the fracas continued for much than a infinitesimal arsenic members of the 2 programs scuffled crossed the court.

There were respective players connected the level and aggregate pileups arsenic the combat continued. Broadcast analysts said a "young girl" successful the assemblage was wounded arsenic a effect of the enactment and that 1 of the team's managers had "blood connected his face," though determination was nary contiguous accusation from authorities oregon the schools connected injuries.

In a associated connection aboriginal Monday, Incarnate Word and A&M-Commerce issued apologies "for the behaviour exhibited by our respective men's hoops programs."

"There is nary spot successful assemblage sports for specified actions," the connection read. "The unsportsmanlike behaviour that occurred aft the crippled does not bespeak the values of the universities involved, arsenic good arsenic the Southland Conference and their subordinate institutions. The substance is presently being reviewed collectively by the Conference bureau and some institutions arsenic the information of our student-athletes, staff, and fans is our superior concern."

The Southland Conference besides issued a little connection addressing the melee, saying it is alert of the "end-of-game concern that occurred."

"We volition beryllium moving intimately with some universities to reappraisal the footage and contented due disciplinary action," the Southland said successful its statement. "Unsportsmanlike behaviour is unacceptable successful the Southland Conference and the information of our student-athletes, spectators, and officials remains a apical priority."

The teams are astatine the bottommost of the league standings, with each entering Monday's contention with 3 league wins.

Texas A&M-Commerce besides won the archetypal matchup betwixt the squads. Lions manager Jaret von Rosenberg called the archetypal outing "a dogfight" connected his postgame vigor show.