Louisiana Tech’s Boykins and UAB’s Baxter Suspended for Fight

Conference USA says Louisiana Tech’s Jacobi Boykins and UAB’s Hakeem Baxter are suspended one game for fighting in the benches-clearing mayhem that led to multiple ejections from Thursday’s game.

Boykins will miss Louisiana Tech’s game at Middle Tennessee. Baxter will miss UAB’s home game against Southern Mississippi.

UAB’s Hakeem Baxter appeared to throw a shoulder into the back of Louisiana Tech’s Jacobi Boykins while players were sorting out the foul call and the confrontation escalated. Boykins was immediately ejected for throwing a punch with a closed fist and both were assessed flagrant technical fouls and ejected for fighting. UAB’s William Lee was assessed a Class A technical foul, but was not ejected.

Players from both benches spilled onto the floor and the entire Louisiana Tech bench was ejected for leaving the bench during a fight. Four of the six players on the UAB bench also were ejected. The head coaches remained, but assistant coaches and support staff on both sides were ejected.

With all of its reserves and Boykins ejected, Louisiana Tech played the final six minutes with four players: Erik McCree, Jalen Harris, DaQuan Bracey and Sherman. Despite being a player short, Louisiana Tech outscored UAB 20-16 over the final six minutes.

The win pulls UAB into a three-way tie for second place in Conference USA with Louisiana Tech and Marshall, all two games behind conference-leading Middle Tennessee.

Conference USA Commissioner Judy MacLeod said in a statement the majority of people involved were “attempting to diffuse the situation” but called what happened “unacceptable.”