by Steven Fernandez
Daily Lobo
A fight broke out near the end of the UNM men's basketball team's 91-83 win against Wyoming on Tuesday in The Pit, resulting in the ejection and suspension of three players.
Lobo Jamaal Smith and Cowboys Brad Jones and Brandon Ewing all received an automatic one-game suspension for their roles in the fight.
With 1:10 left in the game and UNM leading 83-73, Lobo J.R. Giddens was fouled, leading to a scrum on the court. After elbowing Jones, Smith was knocked to the floor and kicked repeatedly.
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Smith received his suspension for the elbow; Ewing was suspended for pushing Giddens; and Jones was suspended for kicking Smith.
With less than five minutes remaining, Wyoming began to press the Lobos, resulting in multiple fouls from both teams.
UNM head coach Ritchie McKay said the fight was a result of the physical play in the final minutes.
"I think kept getting pushed down to the ground," he said. "And how many times can you get pushed down without
coming back?"
Although Smith, Jones and Ewing were the only players to receive immediate discipline, there was pushing and shoving from several players. The Mountain West Conference can review tape from the game and hand out further suspensions if it sees fit.
McKay said he was proud with how his players handled the
situation.
"I got to watch the tape, but I think I saw something differently," he said. "I thought the game got real physical about the last five minutes. I just think as a player, you can only take so much of that."
