TULSA, Okla. — A scuffle happened between Oral Roberts and North Dakota State after the Summit League game on Thursday.
The Bison ended the game with an 18-point win over the Golden Eagles at the Scheels Center in Fargo, N.D.
When the teams met in the handshake line following the game, Oral Roberts coach Paul Mills was seen exchanging words with the North Dakota State coaches and players. It led to a scuffle between both teams.
They were eventually separated and left the floor.
A last-second dunk resulted in words being exchanged & a scuffle between @ORUMBB & NDSU during the postgame handshake.
Paul Mills exchanged words with NDSU coaches and players.
Elijah Lufile was involved in the scuffle and had to be restrained from re-entering the fray. pic.twitter.com/Q5ZcHFD32D
— Cayden McFarland (@caydenmc) February 18, 2022
The Summit League issued a letter of reprimand and a maximum fine of $5,000 to Mills and North Dakota State head coach Dave Richman. The league also issued half-game suspensions to Elijah Lufile and Jamie Bergens of ORU and Grant Nelson and Boden Skunberg of North Dakota State. All suspensions will be served during the first half of each program’s game on Saturday, Feb. 19.
Mills later issued a statement on Twitter apologizing:
I am very saddened about what transpired at the conclusion of our game tonight v NDSU. ORU nor NDSU want to be represented in a negative light. Dave Richman & I have spoken & I have the utmost respect for the Bison program. Congratulations to the Bison on a dominant performance.
ORU President Billy Wilson tweeted a statement Friday in response to the scuffle.
@OralRobertsU is grieved by the altercation at the @ORUMBB game last evening with North Dakota St. At ORU we hold ourselves to a higher standard than was exhibited. We are cooperating fully with the Summit League in their investigation of the incident and any decisions made.
— Billy Wilson (@WilsonBilly) February 18, 2022
North Dakota State won the game 77-59. This marks Oral Roberts' ninth loss of the season so far.
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