The Southland Conference announced suspensions of eight players Wednesday in response to a brawl that took place following Monday’s men’s basketball game between Texas A&M Commerce and Incarnate Word.
Four players from each team will miss time “for flagrant unsportsmanlike actions.” Texas A&M Commerce forward Jerome Brewer Jr., guard Ant Abraham and forward Kwo Agwa received three-game suspensions, and guard Prince Davies was suspended for one game. On the Incarnate Word side, point guard Elijah Davis was suspended three games, while guard Alex Anderson, center Gabe Beny Til and forward Marcus Glover were each suspended for two games.
The fracas, which lasted a little more than a minute, stemmed from an apparent dispute that took place in the postgame handshake line after Texas A&M Commerce beat Incarnate Word, 76-72, in overtime. Dozens of people from both programs, most of whom appeared to be attempting to calm things down, spilled onto the court as the altercation continued with several punches being thrown.
“The Southland Conference Board of Directors has set clear expectations for sportsmanship and behavior of our student-athletes, coaches, and spectators during and after competitions. Unfortunately, these expectations were not met on Monday night, and the Southland Conference will not tolerate any unsportsmanlike behavior,” Southland Conference Commissioner Chris Grant said in a statement. “I would like to extend our appreciation to A&M-Commerce Athletics Director Jim Curry and UIW Athletics Director Richard Duran for their unwavering partnership and diligent resolution of this matter.”
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“The University of the Incarnate Word respects the decisions made by the Southland Conference,” Duran said in a statement. “We will honor the suspensions handed down effective immediately. We would like to thank the SLC office for handling this matter in a fair and efficient manner. I appreciate Texas A&M-Commerce’s athletic director Jim Curry for partnering with me throughout the process.”
Texas A&M Commerce declined to comment. The programs issued a joint statement late Monday.
“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,” the statement 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.”
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