Bryant beats Wagner for NEC males’s basketball title in recreation marred by combat in stands

Bryant on Tuesday evening secured its first journey to the Division I NCAA males’s basketball match, however its NEC championship recreation in opposition to Wagner was marred by a combat between followers within the stands late within the second half.

Peter Kiss, the nation’s main scorer, had 34 factors to guide the Bulldogs previous the Seahawks 70-43 in Smithfield, Rhode Island. It is the primary NEC title for Bryant, which grew to become postseason eligible in 2012-13 after transitioning to D-I.

The sport was delayed for about 30 minutes with 4:37 remaining within the second half after a combat between followers behind the Wagner bench erupted. A small part of seats principally occupied by Wagner followers sat subsequent to Bryant’s scholar’s part and the contentious ambiance led to a scuffle.

Native and state police have been seen on the courtroom as tensions calmed. Officers went to the replay screens a number of occasions to see if any gamers from the faculties entered the stands. Not one of the gamers or coaches made it into the stands, although Wagner guard Will Martinez tried to and was ejected from the sport. A number of different gamers needed to be restrained.

Bryant athletic director Invoice Smith later addressed the group on the general public tackle system, telling these in attendance that they may not storm the courtroom — the Bulldogs have been effectively forward on the time — till after Wagner gamers and employees had exited the ground after the sport.

“I did not see any of it — how any of that factor began,” Smith mentioned afterward, in response to the The Windfall Journal. “All I knew is we would have liked to complete the sport in a first-class method. Get each groups again on the courtroom, shake fingers on the finish and end the sport.

“Sadly I do not suppose there was anything we may have achieved that may have prevented what occurred. It is simply been an unimaginable evening and we will transfer on.”

Added Bryant coach Jared Grasso: “I do not know the way it began, why it began, what passed off. Fortunately our guys weren’t part of it.”

Bryant (22-9) set the Division I program document for wins this season. Kiss made 13 of 23 from the sphere and Four of 5 from 3-point vary and completed with six rebounds, three assists and 5 steals. The senior has scored a minimum of 25 factors in 13 of his final 17 video games and has scored a minimum of 30 factors 10 occasions this season.

Raekwon Rogers led seed Wagner (21-6) with 13 factors on 6-of-Eight taking pictures. The remainder of the Seahawks shot 22% (11 of 50) from the sphere.

Data from The Related Press was used on this report.