ATLANTA (SIAC) – As a result of an internal conference investigation in connection with an altercation which occurred during the LeMoyne-Owen/Lane College men’s basketball game at Bruce Hall Gymnasium in Memphis, Tenn. last weekend, a total of 15 players from both teams will serve suspensions ranging from two to five games each – five games each for three student-athletes who left the bench and were actively involved in the altercation, three games each for two student-athletes directly involved in the incident, and a minimum two game suspension for 10 student-athletes who left the bench.
Although each institution will have the opportunity to stagger the service of student-athlete suspensions throughout the remainder of the season pursuant to a schedule approved by the conference office, any suspension which cannot be completed by the end of the regular season will served during the SIAC Championship Basketball Tournament.
Further, the SIAC will also impose institutional fines against LeMoyne-Owen and Lane and as well as individual fines against both schools’ respective head coaches of an undisclosed amount.
The league will recognize the game between LeMoyne-Owen and Lane on Jan. 14 as no contest.
Lastly, for those spectators who have been identified by the Memphis Police Department, LeMoyne-Owen, and Lane as active participants in the incident, the SIAC will be impose a lifetime ban from attendance at any SIAC competition or related event, regardless of sport. Moreover, we will actively work with the local law enforcement so that these individuals are also prosecuted to the fullest extent pursuant to prevailing state and local statues and ordinances.
“The interests of student-athlete and spectator safety and good sportsmanship during intercollegiate athletic events are sacrosanct and represent a core article of faith for our league.” said SIAC Commissioner Gregory Moore. “The incident which unfolded Saturday evening not only was in direct contravention of these critically important interests, but in a larger and very real sense, these isolated incidents scar and victimize league stakeholders throughout the SIAC who work extremely hard to ensure that athletic events across all of our campuses remain safe places and spaces for all of our student-athletes and loyal fans. As a conference, we will continue to fiercely protect and advance these interests and maintain a zero tolerance policy for any conduct which falls short of the SIAC expectations regarding safety and good sportsmanship.
We appreciate the assistance and full cooperation which both institutions accorded to conference office during this investigation.”
The conference will have no further comments regarding this matter.
