Obiekea Is Suspended by UC Irvine for Fight : College basketball: Coach decries player’s actions in melee after loss to Cal State Fullerton on Saturday night.

UC Irvine senior Uzoma Obiekea, who can be seen kicking Cal State Fullerton senior Bruce Bowen in a videotape of the melee that followed Fullerton’s 61-59 victory Saturday, was suspended indefinitely Sunday by Anteater Coach Rod Baker.

“How ever the altercation was initiated, I cannot condone the type of behavior that Uzoma displayed,” Baker said.

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 said an examination by Fullerton trainer Ivan Pierra determined that it is not.

Bowen could not be reached for comment Sunday, but Holland said he spoke with him Sunday morning and that Bowen was sore and “laying low.”

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” whom he hit and that he was trying to “protect” his teammates.

Obiekea, who is from Oguta, Nigeria, was dismissed from the Irvine team last season for unspecified reasons, but Baker allowed him to return as a walk-on this season.

An attempt to reach Obiekea on Sunday was unsuccessful.

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 late Saturday after being kicked while trying to shield Bowen.

Holland, who was angered by the outbreak and has not ruled out the possibility of filing charges, was satisfied with Obiekea’s suspension.

“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.

Results of the separate reviews are expected within a few days.