Pac-12 suspends six UCLA players after fight in game at Arizona

The Pacific 12 Conference on Friday handed down suspensions to six UCLA football players and four Arizona players for their participation in a fight during Thursday night’s game.

UCLA defensive tackle Cassius Marsh will serve a two-game suspension, and wide receivers Taylor Embree, Randall Carroll, Ricky Marvray and Shaquelle Evans were suspended for one game. Guard Albert Cid will serve a half-game suspension.

All four of Arizona’s suspended players are defensive backs. Shaquille Richardson and Jourdon Grandon will sit out one game; Mark Watley and Lyle Brown received half-game suspensions.

Conference officials reviewed game tape Friday before acting.

“The Conference is extremely disappointed in the actions of the student-athletes involved in this incident,” Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said in a statement. “It is unacceptable behavior and violated conference rules, as well as NCAA fighting rules.”

The fight occurred with four seconds left in the first half of Arizona’s 48-12 victory.

With Arizona leading, 42-7, Embree and Richardson exchanged heated words. Richardson, a onetime UCLA recruit who attended summer classes there in 2010, shoved Embree. Carroll and Evans retaliated, players from both benches rushed the field and several altercations broke out. Marsh was among a group of players who escalated the brawl.

“That is something that should never happen,” UCLA tight end Joseph Fauria said after the game. “It’s embarrassing. It’s not what this program is about. It won’t happen again.”

Marvray was contrite after the game, saying, “Tempers flaring on both sides. It was definitely something that doesn’t represent UCLA and it’s definitely something that we can’t let happen again.”

Scott indicated that the suspensions were meant as a strong message to other players.

“It’s imperative that we hold our student-athletes and coaches to the highest standard of sportsmanship,” Scott said.

The suspensions will be served next week, when UCLA plays California in the Rose Bowl and Arizona plays at Washington.

The Bruins will be especially thin at wide receiver. Embree, Carroll, Evans and Marvray are part of UCLA’s six-man rotation at the position. Josh Smith and Nelson Rosario will be the only experienced receivers available.

“As a program, we certainly do not condone the actions of our student-athletes involved, no matter what circumstances they found themselves in at the time,” UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel said in a statement.

“I am very disappointed with their actions. I told each and every one of our players as much in the locker room, both at halftime, and at the conclusion of the game. Everyone here understands the expectations and responsibilities we share, and that representing UCLA on the field of play is a privilege.”

Neuheisel said after the game that the fight “was two youngsters getting into it. I don’t know how it started; I know it is not conduct we expect from our team.”

chris.foster@latimes.com

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