UC Irvine’s Suspended Players React to Penalties for Fight

Uzoma Obiekea, the UC Irvine player suspended for four games for his part in Saturday’s postgame fight with Cal State Fullerton, had no desire to replay the details of his actions or punishment Wednesday.

“I don’t want to talk about it. I just want to let it go,” said Obiekea, waiting in the Irvine training room because he felt ill and wanted to be checked.

His teammate, LaDay Smith, the only other player whom the Big West Conference disciplined, said he was shocked to learn he will be suspended for the teams’ rematch Feb. 13 at Titan Gym.

“I couldn’t believe they suspended me,” said Smith, who was in street clothes for the game and was suspended because he is visible on a Dimension Cable videotape tossing aside a crutch to join a scuffle and appearing to throw a punch.

“I didn’t do anything malicious,” Smith said. “I guess they saw my arm come around. I was trying to pull people off my teammate.”

Irvine Coach Rod Baker is eager to put the incident behind him, but when asked Wednesday if he is embarrassed by Obiekea’s actions, he said he is not.

“I’m not embarrassed,” Baker said. “I’m not his father. I didn’t raise him. I’ve only known him a year and change.”

Keith Stewart, an Irvine guard who was not involved in the fight, said he was disappointed that two Irvine players and no Fullerton players were disciplined.

“It’s not a one-sided coin. There are two sides,” Stewart said. “There were about 11 people who should have been suspended.”

Smith is expected to return in early February after the stress fracture in his left foot heals, but he will be barred from the Feb. 13 Fullerton game for his part in the fight.

“It shouldn’t happen again, on my part or UC Irvine’s,” Smith said.