Relationships intact: Teams keep calm after physical play

Houston, TX – Southern University’s basketball program has found themselves weary of physical play trouble and at the last game of the season it cannot be afforded. Ironically it was Southern against Texas Southern and being underneath the basket became the catalyst for very heated conflict for physical play. Heat rose as the men’s basketball team rushed to the rescue to check on their teammates, the heat became hotter.
Unlike the women’s basketball program a week before championship glory when a bench-clearing brawl erupted after a crucial foul by in a game between Southern and Texas Southerm which became nationally reconigzed. A physical play between the men in the finals of the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championships didn’t lead to blows being exchanged or excommunication of any player.
It all started with 27 seconds left, Southern was up by a solitary point and sophomore guard, Trelun Banks slammed TSU Malcolm Riley across the shoulder and neck, sending him crashing to the court below. Riley’s teammates rushed to the floor to check on him only to find a severe cut on his cranium.
“It’s a deep cut,” said Riley while wearing a bandage after their win. “I’ll go get stitches and after I’ll be good I just took one for the team.”
Riley took off for a fastbreak score for an easy layup when Banks was charged with foul.
“I just took off and I saw an opening and went for the layup,” said Riley,”Banks kind of clothes-lined me. The refs made the right decision, and Deverell Biggs made two free throws for me. It was dirty but all part of the game.”
The officials, after such a terrible takedown called for a flagrant 2 foul, which brought an automatic ejection to Banks, son of Coach Roman Banks.
Head Coach of Texas Southern, Mike Davis knew of the mindset of the player and coach duo.
“I know coach Banks and his son didn’t do anything with malice,” said Davis,”It looked really bad, but he was trying to defend my player from making the fastbreak and any basketball player would do so to prevent the shot.”
The known altercation in the women’s basketball team in H&PE Arena, the game was declared a double forfeit. It drew national attention and led to the suspension of more than a dozen student athletes.
Coach Roman Banks knew the mindset of the officials as they were afraid of the national brawl that could’ve ensued.
“I think that was in the officials mind,” Coach Banks said, “It was a very tough ballgame. I think it needs to be clear cut, but it had to do what just happened with the two schools.”
Both coaches said that they and their teams have a good relationship.
Riley was dutifully surprised when his teammate Madarious Gibbs gave him the tournament MVP award.
Southern suffered at a cost but not for suspension of their players.