Seven Hospitalized as Players, Fans, Band Engage in Brawl

A 15-minute, gymnasium-wide brawl during Thursday night’s basketball game between North Carolina Central and North Carolina A&T; resulted in at least seven people being hospitalized.

At the height of the fracas, about 300 fans were on the court, authorities said. Witnesses said fighting, including the throwing of chairs, spread throughout the gymnasium.

The incident began with 8:04 left in the second half when Derrick Leak, a forward for visiting N.C. Central, was fouled by center Jimmy Humphries. The two players shoved each other and the situation quickly escalated into a brawl.

At least one spectator, an unidentified member of the N.C. A&T; pep band, was removed from the court on a stretcher, officials said. “Even people from the A&T; pep band were fighting,” N.C. Central sports information director Wallace Dooley said by phone. “They were hitting people with their instruments.”

Orby Moss, N.C. A&T; athletic director, pleaded in vain over the public address system for spectators to remain in their seats. The fighting continued, and Moss suspended the game with Division I N.C. A&T; leading, 39-38, against the defending NCAA Division II national champions.

Neither team reported injuries.

“It was very, very scary,” N.C. A&T; Coach Don Corbett said. “We could have had a full scale riot in there. I truly didn’t see what happened. I saw a push.”

Dooley said a teleconference between school officials would be held today to discuss when--or if--the game would be played. “It was a hotly contested game between two rivals and it’s a shame that the game couldn’t be decided (Thursday night),” N.C. Central Coach Mike Bernard said. “It’s a shame their fans didn’t get the opportunity to see the whole ballgame.”