After Fullerton Wins, 61-59, Teams Fight

A simmering rivalry between Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine spilled over into a melee on the Bren Center court after Fullerton’s 61-59 victory in front of 3,784 Saturday.

Most of the players on both teams fought or restrained others, but no fans appeared to be involved.

The game was decided in the final seconds. The Titans’ Don Leary rebounded his missed shot, then scored from the lane with a little more than three seconds to play for a two-point lead.

As the game ended, a fracas erupted. Fullerton Coach Brad Holland said he was told Irvine reserve Uzoma Obiekea “sucker-punched” Bruce Bowen, a player Obiekea scuffled with after a game last year.

Bowen kneeled on the court with his head covered during the three or four minutes the widespread scuffle lasted, as coaches and administrators from both schools tried to restrain players. Holland, whose players boarded a bus shortly after Irvine Coach Rod Baker entered their locker room in a conciliatory effort, said Bowen “probably has a broken nose,”

Baker said he would withhold judgment until he sees a film of the incident.

“It was too good a game to end that way,” Baker said. “No, the fact that we still have to go up there makes it even worse.”

Obiekea scuffled with Bowen last season. He said he didn’t know if he hit Bowen this time.

“I don’t know who I hit,” Obiekea said. “Everyone was going crazy. They went after my teammates. I had to go protect them.”

Fullerton is 8-4, 3-2 in the Big West. Irvine is 2-9, 0-4.