Representatives from Southern and Texas Southern are currently still assessing the in-game brawl between the teams Saturday that led to a double-forfeit in a contest that was billed to decide the regular season championship.
The brawl, which took place with Southern leading 51-49 with 12:36 left in regulation, involved players from both teams, cheerleaders and even fans.
The game was called as a result of the escalating scuffle, giving Southern and Texas Southern a share of the conference title.
Texas Southern, however, will enter the SWAC Tournament as the No. 1 seed.
A portion of the fight — captured on a spectator’s cellphone — shows several Southern players standing near their bench while chaos unfolds along the baseline and other areas of the court.
Security guards, coaches and others attempt to maintain control as someone is ushered to the ground near the foul line by several people.
The altercation continues beyond the base line under the basket and near the stands.
“I’ve been involved with basketball for 30+ years and I’ve never seen anything like it,” Southern coach Sandy Pugh told the press after the game. “It’s an embarrassment.”
The officials ruled the game a double-forfeit. Since the game lasted less than 30 minutes on the clock, NCAA rules don’t count the stats.
The fight reportedly started when TSU’s Miracle Davis took a charge underneath the TSU basket, according media reports.
“It was very undisciplined by both teams and fans on the sideline,” TSU Coach Johnette Hayes-Perry said. “I thought after the charge both players were trying to get up, but another player pushed them and that is all I could see.”
Any penalties or suspensions resulting from the altercation will be announced by the SWAC prior to the start of the conference tournament.
