Ugly brawl breaks out at end of Southland game

A massive postgame brawl broke out following Texas A&M-Commerce’s 76-72 win over Incarnate Word on Monday as the teams started shaking hands.

It’s unclear what sparked the fight in the handshake line, which involved multiple players from both squads throwing punches at one another. Coaches and players from both teams tried to separate the brawling players, but the fracas continued for more than a minute as members of the two programs scuffled across the court.

There were multiple players on the floor and multiple pileups as the fight continued. Broadcast analysts said a “young girl” in the crowd got hurt as a result of the brawl and one of the team’s managers had “blood on his face,” though there was no immediate information from authorities or the schools on injuries.

In a joint statement later Monday, Incarnate Word and A&M-Commerce issued apologies “for the behavior exhibited by our respective men’s basketball programs” in the fight.

“There is no place in college sports for such actions,” 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. The matter is currently being reviewed collectively by the Conference office and both institutions as the safety of our student-athletes, staff, and fans if our primary concern.”

The Southland Conference also issued a brief statement addressing the melee, saying that it is aware of the “end-of-game situation that occurred.”

“We will be working closely with both universities to review the footage and issue appropriate disciplinary action,” the Southland said in its statement. “Unsportsmanlike behavior is unacceptable in the Southland Conference and the safety of our student-athletes, spectators, and officials remains a top priority.”

The two teams are at the bottom of the standings in the Southland Conference, with each entering the game on Monday with just three league wins. Texas A&M-Commerce won the first matchup between the two teams.

Texas A&M Commerce head coach Jaret von Rosenberg called the first game between the two teams “a dogfight” on his postgame radio show.