The NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Committee has issued misconduct penalties to Southern Connecticut State University and St. Thomas Aquinas College related to a postgame fight on the basketball court between the teams in March during the Division II East Region quarterfinals in Philadelphia.
The committee reprimanded both teams based on NCAA rules regarding misconduct during a championship. NCAA guidelines define misconduct as any act of dishonesty, unsportsmanlike conduct, unprofessional behavior or breach of law, occurring from the time the championship field is announced through the end of the championship that discredits the event or intercollegiate athletics.
Both teams received specific penalties. For Southern Connecticut State:
- Two student-athletes (Joseph Wallace and Eric Ross) will be required to sit out the next three NCAA tournament games in which they would otherwise be participants.
- Head men’s basketball coach Scott Burrell will be suspended from coaching the next NCAA tournament game appearance in which he would be a coach.
- Transportation and per diem reimbursements for participation in the NCAA championship for two student-athletes and the head coach will be withheld from the school (total: $1,196.25).
- Public reprimand from the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Committee.
For St. Thomas Aquinas:
- Head men’s basketball coach Tobin Anderson will be suspended from coaching the next NCAA tournament game appearance.
- Transportation and per diem reimbursements for participation in the NCAA championship for the head coach will be withheld from the school (total: $980).
- Public reprimand from the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Committee.
“The NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Committee was disappointed with the unprofessional behavior displayed by the head coaches and select student-athletes at the end of the Southern Connecticut State and St. Thomas Aquinas men’s basketball game at the East Regional tournament this season,” said Wendell Staton, committee chair and athletics director at Georgia College.
“The committee expects the participating teams and staffs to conduct themselves in a professional manner throughout the entirety of the game and also in any postgame setting. Coaches and student-athletes are expected to represent the NCAA and their schools in a positive manner and with good sportsmanship during the tournament,” Staton said.