Assault and Chaos ensue at SEC Tournament as LSU Player's Brother Arrested
ICARO Media Group
In a shocking turn of events at the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Tournament, the brother of LSU guard Flau'jae Johnson was arrested and charged with assault and battery, as well as disorderly conduct. Trayron Milton, 24, was taken into custody by the Greenville Police Department following a fight that erupted after his sister was forcefully shoved to the court by South Carolina forward Kamilla Cardoso.
The incident took place during a high-stakes game, causing tensions to run high amongst the players and spectators. Milton exhibited extreme aggression as he jumped over the scorer's table in an attempt to reach the court. Reports from the Greenville Police Department reveal that Milton forcefully pushed down an SEC employee and even used her shoulders as a stepping stone to make his way onto the court on Sunday.
Milton briefly made contact with Cardoso before law enforcement swiftly intervened and escorted him away. This incident once again raises concerns about court-storming in college basketball, both in the men's and women's games. Similar cases of players and fans colliding have been reported in recent months, with calls for tighter security measures intensifying.
It is worth noting that of the six major basketball conferences, four impose fines on host schools that fail to prevent fans from storming the court. The ACC does not levy fines, while the Big Ten waits until a third offense to take action. This has prompted discussions about the need for immediate change to ensure the safety of all players, coaches, and personnel involved.
In response to the chaotic scene in Greenville, police and security personnel acted swiftly to de-escalate the situation. While Milton managed to overcome the barriers and make his way to the scorer's table, authorities promptly confronted two other individuals who had also breached the stands but were prevented from going any further.
The repercussions of the altercation were felt within the game itself, as Cardoso was ejected for fighting, and three of her South Carolina teammates were thrown out for leaving the bench area. Two LSU players who had played minutes in the game were also sent off. This resulted in South Carolina finishing the game with six players and LSU with only five.
Following the game, the six victorious Gamecocks celebrated their eighth championship in the past 10 years, albeit without the four players who were sent to the locker room. According to NCAA rules, Cardoso will be suspended for South Carolina's next game, which will notably serve as their opener in the NCAA Tournament.
The incident at the SEC Tournament has once again highlighted the need for increased security measures in college basketball. It remains to be seen how officials and conferences will address these concerns moving forward, with many calling for immediate action to prevent such altercations from occurring in the future.