Suspensions handed out following Incarnate Word and Texas A&M Commerce brawl
By DYLAN LUTEY
On Monday, an intense brawl broke out after the game between Texas A&M Commerce and Incarnate Word. Following a 76-72 Lions win, players from both teams started to throw punches during the handshake line.
On Wednesday, the Southland Conference suspended four players from each team for “flagrant unsportsmanlike actions”.
Jerome Brewer Jr., Ant Abraham, and Kwo Agwa of Texas A&M Commerce were suspended for three games, while their teammate Prince Davies was suspended for one game.
Elijah Davis of Incarnate Word was suspended for three games, while his teammates Alex Anderson, Gabe Beny Til, and Marcus Glover were all suspended two games.
“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,” Southland commissioner Chris Grant said in a statement. “Unfortunately, these expectations were not met on Monday night, and the Southland Conference will not tolerate any unsportsmanlike behavior. I would like to extend our appreciation to A&M-Commerce Athletics Director Jim Curry and [Incarnate Word] Athletics Director Richard Duran for their unwavering partnership and diligent resolution of this matter.”
Incarnate Word athletic director Duran expressed his respect for the decision in a statement.
“We will honor the suspensions handed down effective immediately,” he said. “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 had no comment on the suspensions, but did release a joint statement earlier in the week along with Incarnate Word on the brawl.
“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,” they said. “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.”
Both teams’ players will start serving their suspensions during their next game which is Saturday for both schools.
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