Basketball Game Played Wednesday Still Isn’t Over

January 27, 2012 /
The Observer-Dispatch (Utica, N.Y.), John Pitarresi and Amanda Fries

http://www.uticaod.com/m/sports/x987154611/Disturbance-clouds-result-of-HCCC-MVCC-basketball-game

The result of the Herkimer County Community College-Mohawk Valley Community College men’s basketball game Wednesday night at the MVCC gym still is in doubt.

HCCC had taken a 75-74 lead on Deandre Preaster’s two foul shots with 40 seconds to play when a disturbance in the stands sent numerous fans streaming toward the court. MVCC campus police rushed to the scene, attempted to remove the individuals involved, and hundreds of fans milled around the area.

Moments later, campus police asked everyone to clear the building, saying that anyone remaining after five minutes would be arrested for trespassing, and game officials said the game was over.

Thursday, it appeared it might not be. MVCC coach Matt St. Croix said he wants to play the remaining 40 seconds on his court, and said that it is his understanding that that can be done under the rules.

HCCC Athletic Director Don Dutcher said the issue might be considered by the Standards and Ethics Committee of Region III of the National Junior College Athletic Association. He said MVCC Athletic Director Gary Broadhurst, who is president of the National Alliance of Two Year College Athletic Administrators and attending that group’s mid-winter meetings this week in Florida, has 24 hours to make an appeal to that group.

Broadhurst could not be reached Thursday.

The possible outcomes include the game being declared complete, with HCCC winning; playing the last 40 seconds on MVCC’s court; playing the 40 seconds before the next game between the teams Feb. 14 in Herkimer, and the game being declared no contest.

St. Croix said he doesn’t foresee the game being declared complete, and didn’t know if completing the game Feb. 14 would be considered. He said he hoped for a decision some time Thursday.

The gym was filled to capacity for the arch-rivalry game. The disturbance began near the top of the stands opposite the MVCC bench.

“It got to be such a large crowd,” MVCC Police Chief Joe Palmer said Thursday. “We don’t know who was directly involved in pushing and shoving and who was just trying to get out of there.”

Utica Police said Thursday that they responded at 8:41 p.m. to a “large fight” at the gymnasium on campus and dispersed a large disorderly group that was coming from the gym.

No arrests have yet been made as campus police and officials review a videotape of the incident, Palmer said.

The campus chief said that with the help of professors, resident assistants, coaches and other campus officials, they hope to identify some individuals and make positive IDs.

What instigated the incident and how many people were involved still is under investigation.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/01/25/3688274/utas-new-sports-arena-comes-fully.html#storylink=cpy
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/01/25/3688274/utas-new-sports-arena-comes-fully.html#storylink=cpy
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/01/25/3688274/utas-new-sports-arena-comes-fully.html#storylink=cpy


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