In a tumultuous turn of events, the SEC Tournament championship game between top-ranked South Carolina and LSU ended in chaos as a brawl erupted late in the fourth quarter. Despite South Carolina’s 79-72 victory, the game was marred by multiple player ejections and a fan arrest after an altercation on the court.
Expressing regret for the incident, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley issued an apology to the basketball community, acknowledging the heated nature of championship games but emphasizing that such behaviour does not reflect their team’s values.
Chaos Erupts: South Carolina vs. LSU in SEC Tournament Final Ends in Brawl
The altercation began when South Carolina’s Malaysia Fulwiley stole the ball from LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson, prompting a reaction from Johnson who grabbed Fulwiley in frustration. The situation escalated as players from both teams intervened, with South Carolina’s Ashlyn Watkins being shoved by Johnson. Subsequently, South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso delivered a forceful blow to Johnson, leading to a bench-clearing altercation.
LSU and South Carolina players got into a scuffle in the fourth quarter of the SEC Championship. pic.twitter.com/rXw1tb1jWM
— ESPN (@espn) March 10, 2024
Adding to the chaos, a fan identified as Johnson’s brother jumped onto the court, resulting in his arrest by police. Following a thorough review, the referees penalized Johnson with an intentional foul and ejected Cardoso for her involvement in the altercation. Additionally, both teams’ benches were ejected from the game except for specific players.
As a consequence, LSU finished the game with five players, while South Carolina had six remaining players on the court. Cardoso will face suspension for the first round of the NCAA Tournament, while other ejected players will not be suspended.
Staley reiterated the importance of controlling emotions during intense moments and expressed disappointment that the ejected players could not partake in the celebration.
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