Myron Medcalf, ESPN Staff Writer February 19, 2024, 11:11 p.m. ET
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- Covers college basketball
- Joined ESPN.com in 2011
- Graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato
After Texas A&M-Commerce's 76-72 win over Incarnate Word on Monday, a massive brawl broke out after the game as the teams began shaking hands.
It's unclear what sparked the handshake row fight, in which several players from both teams lashed out at each other. Coaches and players from both teams tried to separate the arguing players, but the fracas lasted more than a minute as members of the two programs scuffled across the field.
As the fight continued, several players were on the ground and several pileups occurred. Broadcast analysts said a “young girl” in the crowd was injured as a result of the brawl and that one of the team managers had “blood on his face,” although there was no immediate information about injuries from authorities or schools.
In a joint statement later Monday, Incarnate Word and A&M-Commerce apologized “for the conduct of our respective men's basketball programs” in the postgame altercation.
“There is no place for such actions in university sports,” the statement said. “The unsportsmanlike conduct following the game does not reflect the values of the universities involved and the Southland Conference and its member institutions. The matter is currently being reviewed jointly by the conference office and both institutions with the safety of our students in mind.” -Athletes, staff and fans are our primary concern.
The Southland Conference also issued a brief statement on the scuffle, saying it was aware of the “end-of-game situation.”
“We will work closely with both universities to review the footage and take appropriate disciplinary action,” Southland said in its statement. “Unsportsmanlike conduct is unacceptable in the Southland Conference and the safety of our student-athletes, spectators and officials remains our top priority.”
The two teams are at the bottom of the Southland Conference table and go into the game with just three league wins each. Texas A&M-Commerce won the first meeting between the two teams.
Texas A&M-Commerce head coach Jaret von Rosenberg called the first game between the two teams “a dogfight” on his postgame radio show.