A fight between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the LSU Tigers broke out towards the end of the fourth quarter in the SEC Championship game.
According to Complex, the fight led to many players being ejected from the match.
The incident occurred with 2:08 left in the fourth quarter when South Carolina was leading 73-66.
Tigers guard Flau’jae Johnson went ahead of MiLaysia Fulwiley and pulled her jersey.
Johnson bumped into South Carolina’s Ashlyn Watkins, and Gamecocks center Kamilla Cardoso rushed over and knocked her to the ground.
Then, the fight ensued, with players on both sides leaving their benches to help their teammates.
Johnson’s brother, spectating the match, even leaped onto the court to defend his sister.
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
The cops eventually ejected him from the court, and the match was delayed for 20 minutes while the refs assessed the situation.
The officials penalized Johnson with an intentional foul, while Cardoso got ejected from the match for shoving her.
All the players who left their benches to join the fight were also ejected from the game.
After officials dished out the punishment, LSU was left with five players, while South Carolina remained with six.
The Gamecocks won 79-72 and extended their record to 32-0.
The SEC South Carolina And LSU Coaches Apologized After The Game
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley apologized after the match.
“I just want to apologize to the basketball community. You know when you’re playing a championship game like this in our league things get heated. No bad intentions.
“Their emotions got so far ahead of them that sometimes these things happen. So I want to apologize for us playing a part in that, because that’s not who we are and that’s not what we’re about. But I’m happy for the players that were able to finish the game and get us another championship.”
“I wish she would have pushed Angel Reese. … You 6’8”, don’t push somebody that little.”
Kim Mulkey speaks after Kamilla Cardoso pushed Flau’jae Johnson in LSU-SC scuffle ???? pic.twitter.com/AOUaVlrbKS
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 10, 2024
In LSU coach Kim Mulkey’s interview, she didn’t get why no South Carolina coach who left the bench got ejected.
“We didn’t have any ejections. They had an ejection. They told me Cardoso was the only one ejected for fighting. But my question is, I don’t really know the rules, why weren’t the coaches tossed if they left the bench? Wouldn’t that be a hell of an ending. But I guess it’s just the players that leave the bench area. I don’t know. It’s ugly. It’s not good. No one wants to be a part of that. No one wants to see that ugliness.”
Cardoso apologized for her actions on X.
“I would like to extend my sincerest apologies for my actions during today’s game. My behavior was not representative of who I am as a person or the South Carolina program, and I deeply regret any discomfort or inconvenience it may have caused.”
“I take full responsibility for my actions and assure you that I am committed to conducting myself with the utmost respect and sportsmanship in the future.”
