UC Irvine’s Obiekea Draws Suspension : Basketball: Baker benches him indefinitely for his actions in brawl.

UC Irvine center Uzoma Obiekea, who can be seen kicking Cal State Fullerton forward Bruce Bowen in a videotape of the melee that followed the Titans’ 61-59 victory Saturday, has been suspended indefinitely by Coach Rod Baker.

“(No matter how) the altercation was initiated, I cannot condone the type of behavior that Uzoma displayed,” Baker said in a statement issued Sunday.

Obiekea, who was involved in a milder altercation with Bowen after a game last season, is suspended pending the outcome of reviews by the Big West Conference and UC Irvine.

“Until we can get a better understanding of how the incident started, I feel this is the best course of action to take,” Baker said.

Bowen, who fell to the floor as the fracas broke out and remained kneeling with his head covered for the duration of the fighting, has a swollen nose and knots on his head, Fullerton Coach Brad Holland said Sunday. Holland feared Saturday night that Bowen’s nose was broken, but an examination by Fullerton trainer Ivan Pierra determined that it is not.

Bowen, a senior who averages 19 points and is the Titans’ leading scorer, could not be reached for comment Sunday. Holland said he spoke with Bowen Sunday morning and that Bowen was sore and “laying low.”

Big West Conference Commissioner Dennis Farrell said he will review all available video of the incident before making a judgment within the next few days on possible suspensions.

“I’ll be looking at tape to make sure whether there is anybody else that’s culpable in the whole situation who action needs to be taken against,” Farrell said. “I think the encouraging thing and the important thing in the relationship between UCI and Cal State Fullerton is that Rod very much wants to make sure Fullerton understands he is not going to condone this type of behavior in his players. He’s not going to sit by without taking some type of action. Obviously, in some instances, the conference and a member school could be at odds on this. In this case, it doesn’t appear that way at all.”

Though it has not been determined when Obiekea might return to the team, he is not expected to accompany the team on its trip to Las Cruces, N.M., to play New Mexico State on Saturday.

“My thinking is (the suspension) would be extensive,” Baker said. “I don’t know that it’s going to be a one-game thing or a one-week thing.”

An attempt to reach Obiekea on Sunday was unsuccessful.

Holland, who was angered by the outbreak and did not rule out the possibility of pursuing charges, was satisfied for now with Baker’s move to suspend Obiekea.

“I’d say that’s probably appropriate at this point, but like Coach Baker, I’d like to see what the university and the league office has to say about it,” Holland said.

Though the focus has been on Bowen and Obiekea, other players from both teams took part in the brawl, which lasted several minutes. Though no fans appeared to be involved, campus police were alarmed enough about losing control of the situation that they called in reinforcements.

Bowen said Saturday night that the scuffle broke out after he approached Obiekea to shake his hand.

“He faked like he was going to shake my hand and he punched me,” Bowen said.

Obiekea said he “didn’t know” who he hit and that he was trying to “protect” his teammates.

A brief segment of video shot by an Orange County News Channel cameraman before he was jostled himself clearly shows Obiekea kick Bowen sharply one time while Bowen is on the floor, then step on Bowen’s back with his foot. Obiekea is also seen swinging before Bowen falls, but it is difficult to tell if Obiekea knocked Bowen to the floor.

Another Irvine player, center Dee Boyer, is visible swinging his arms behind Bowen, but it is unclear if he hit him.

Baker said he thought the video was inconclusive about Boyer’s part in the fray.

“I felt that things had started. From what I saw, what Dee supposedly did was in what was going on. Things had started and now it becomes a protective thing,” Baker said.

“I have not seen anything and do not believe there is anything that will ever tell us how it started,” Baker said. “The closest camera to what is going on is (the OCN) camera and you can’t see it on that. Whatever started had already started.

“I love Bruce Bowen. I think he’s a great kid. I’d never wish anything bad to happen to him or any other kid on any other team in this conference.”

Obiekea rejoined the Irvine team as a walk-on this season after Baker dismissed him last season for breaking a team rule unrelated to fighting.

A 6-foot-7, 240-pound senior from Oguta, Nigeria, Obiekea transferred to Irvine in 1991 after U.S. International dropped its athletic programs.

He was the starting center for the Anteaters’ first four games this season, when Boyer was hampered by a nagging shin injury. Obiekea averaged 1.7 points and 2.2 rebounds.

Holland said his feelings on the brawl did not change after viewing the OCN videotape late Saturday.

“The tape clearly shows (Obiekea) punching Bruce in the face,” Holland said. “Then Bruce is down and (Obiekea) is kicking him in the head. It clearly shows Bruce getting kicked in the head.”

Holland said he does not know the extent of the injuries to assistant trainer Mike Amaral, whose right elbow was swollen and iced when he left the Bren Center after being kicked while trying to shield Bowen.

Irvine officials maintain that it is unclear what provoked the fighting, and that the brief video segment is inconclusive.

“In a situation like this, no matter what precipitates that type of action, any student-athlete has to convey proper decorum, poise and wherewithal to show self-control and restraint and walk away,” Irvine Athletic Director Dan Guerrero said. “We will not condone fighting by any of our student-athletes whether it’s initiated by them or is a reaction to others. (Obiekea) was suspended simply by virtue of being a very significant participant.”