Duke coach Jon Scheyer mentioned Monday a workforce staffer injured during a court-storming after a last-second loss at rival North Carolina is OK however had a bloody lip and was caught up underneath followers.
“After the game, what happened was I came back in the locker room and I see he’s got a bloody lip and he’s disheveled and he didn’t know what happened, he got trampled on the floor,” Scheyer mentioned throughout the Atlantic Coast Conference’s coaches media name. “That was my predominant concern after the sport.
“He’s doing better, he’s fine, ready to move on,” Scheyer added.
The fourth-ranked Blue Devils lost 71-68 to the now-No. 11 Tar Heels on Seth Trimble’s 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left Saturday evening. Fans rushed the Smith Center courtroom considering time had expired earlier than an official assessment decided time wanted to be added.
Security staffers cleared the courtroom for a last play, then followers stormed once more when time expired.
Afterward, Scheyer mentioned employees members have been “punched in the face” amid the chaotic moments, which included video of at the least one fan throwing what seemed to be a bottle on the Blue Devils. A Duke spokesman later mentioned one particular person was injured, however did not launch extra particulars, citing privateness considerations.
Scheyer clarified Monday that just one particular person was struck.
“One of our guys, he got hit in the face, got trampled,” Scheyer mentioned. “Looked like he had been in a complete brawl after the game. He’s doing better now, but that should never happen.”
Tar Heels coach Hubert Davis mentioned Monday he has spoken with Scheyer however did not elaborate. Athletic director Bubba Cunningham spoke to reporters Saturday evening, apologizing to Scheyer and referring to at least one harm.
The ACC, which in July introduced a fine structure for schools when followers rush fields or courts, fined UNC $50,000 on Sunday.
“We accept the ACC’s fine for having unauthorized people on the court before Duke and the officials could completely clear the floor on Saturday,” UNC mentioned in a press release. “The video we now have reviewed confirms we adopted our protocols to get Duke’s gamers and bench personnel and the sport officers off the ground safely.
“We will proceed to assessment our protocols to offer the very best measures of security in the occasion followers rush the courtroom. We contemplate this matter closed and stay up for the remainder of the season.”
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