This was March Insanity of a unique variety.
A brawl broke out within the stands Tuesday night time late within the NEC Event title sport in Smithfield, R.I. — and that was solely a part of what made it an unpleasant night for Wagner. There was additionally a beatdown on the court docket.
The Seahawks trailed by 30 factors late within the first half, and the night time didn’t get any higher. Not solely did they once more fall in need of reaching the NCAA Event after being totally outplayed by top-seeded Bryant in a 70-43 rout, but additionally the loss included an unpleasant combat between the groups’ followers behind the Wagner bench late within the second half.
Seahawks guard Will Martinez, who tried to achieve the melee, was ejected. After a 30-minute delay, the sport resumed and completed with out incident. With 2.6 seconds left, the officers stopped the sport and allowed the Wagner contingent to go away the ground earlier than Bryant followers stormed the court docket.
“I don’t even know what occurred, I simply wished to get the sport began once more,” stated Bryant coach Jared Grasso, the previous Iona affiliate head coach. “Unlucky incident. I don’t know the way it began, why it began, what happened. … Fortunately we had been in a position to [finish the game].”
For the third time since 2016, Wagner superior to the ultimate, solely to fall quick. At the very least, this one wasn’t as painful because the earlier two losses, which had been determined by a complete of 18 factors.
The second-seeded Seahawks (21-6) trailed 36-6 at one level within the first half and had been down 38-12 at halftime. Coach Bashir Mason modified the colour of jersey he wears in honor of injured senior Elijah Ford, however that didn’t work. The closest his staff received was 21.
It was a nightmare of a night for Alex Morales, the two-time NEC Participant of the 12 months, who scored three factors on 0-for-16 capturing. The absence of Ford, who tore his ACL in early February, was an element. Not solely on this sport, however late within the common season as Wagner misplaced out on home- court docket benefit to top-seeded Bryant. It was a bitter finish for the Seahawks’ six seniors who went 34-13 the previous two seasons and gained an NEC regular-season title a yr in the past.
“This senior group we had was a particular, particular group,” Mason stated. “These guys have accomplished rather a lot for this system.”
Peter Kiss scored 34 for Bryant (22-9), which is headed to the NCAA Event for the primary time. An excellent portion of the animated New York Metropolis native’s baskets within the first half had been adopted by taunts or gestures to the gang. Wagner was unable to cease him.
“He’s the participant of the yr. He’s one of the best participant within the league, he’s essentially the most dominant participant within the league,” Grasso stated. “It was proven tonight.”
With 4:37 left and Bryant up by 36 factors, the fights broke out. Drinks and bottles went flying. Punches had been thrown. The sport was stopped. The groups went again to their respective locker rooms and the sport resumed after a half-hour delay. A bunch of followers behind the Wagner bench was kicked out.
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