Massive Melee Erupts During Southern Miss vs. Arkansas State Basketball Game:
The
fight that broke out in the first half of the basketball game played between the University of Southern Mississippi and Arkansas State University on Thursday night resulted in the punishment of five players and our fans.
Tension
increased on the field as players and coaches attacked, punched and kicked the ground, while 23 people were injured in the fight and a one-minute delay occurred in the second quarter. The incident began when Arkansas forward Emma Imevbore broke past the defense and tangled with South Mississippi’s Domonique Davis. Imevbore allegedly pushed Davis to the ground and then punched Brikayla Gray near the South Mississippi bench.Southern
Miss forward Asjha Leake, who was on the bench during the altercation, tackled several other players and knocked Imevbor to the ground. The heated argument even resulted in South Mississippi assistant coach Jessica Barber being punched and pinned to the bench.ESPN
commentators noted the seriousness of the incident, with one saying: “This could have been bad, it was bad.” The debate worsens the unstable situation. Southern Executive Director Joey Lee-McNelis expressed disappointment in the incident and emphasized the importance of learning from such experiences and ensuring similar situations do not occur in the future.Izzy Higginbottom & Wynter Rogers had 11 points each. But Arkansas State women's basketball fell at Southern Miss 57-48.
2nd quarter fight resulted in multiple ejections.
Video: ESPN+
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— Chris Hudgison (@ChrisHudgison) February 16, 2024
After the altercation, Asjha Leake, Lani Kornfield, Domonique Davis and Brickela Gray from Southern Miss, Imevboal and three famous fans were ejected from the game. Despite losing three starts, Southern Mississippi prevailed, defeating Arkansas State 57-48.
This incident is an important warning about the need for sport and restraint on the field, showing the consequences of relying on body competition.
