Referee gets knocked out cold during Coastal Carolina-South Alabama brawl

Published: Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 12:38 am

Basketball Brawl Erupts in Sun Belt Tournament, Referee Injured

Pensacola, FL - A women's college basketball game between Coastal Carolina and South Alabama turned violent Wednesday during the second round of the Sun Belt tournament. A fight broke out on the court, resulting in the ejection of multiple players and, alarmingly, the injury of a referee.

The incident occurred with approximately six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, with South Alabama leading by nine points. The altercation began between South Alabama's Cordasia Harris and Coastal Carolina's Tracey Hueston near the basket. The situation quickly escalated, leading to a full-blown brawl involving players from both teams.

During the melee, a referee was knocked to the floor. Video footage shows the official being attended to, though the extent of her injuries remains unclear.

Following the fight, Harris and Hueston were ejected from the game. In addition, three South Alabama starters and four bench players were also removed from the contest.

Despite the disruption, South Alabama maintained its lead and ultimately secured an 80-70 victory. Chrysta Narcisse led the Jaguars with 24 points. Diawna Carter-Hartley and Amyah Sutton contributed 18 and 16 points, respectively. South Alabama will advance to the third round of the tournament to face the Texas State Bobcats on Thursday.

BNN's Perspective: While the intensity of college basketball can be exciting, this incident highlights the importance of sportsmanship and the need for players to maintain control. The safety of officials and players should always be the top priority, and such displays of aggression are unacceptable. It is crucial for the Sun Belt Conference to address this situation and ensure that appropriate measures are taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Keywords: college basketball, Sun Belt tournament, Coastal Carolina, South Alabama, fight, referee, ejection, injury, women's basketball, brawl, sportsmanship

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