Judah Mintz slaps Bryant’s Doug Edert and then Edert comes right back with a slap on Mintz as both benches clear.
Judah Mintz was at the center of Syracuse’s 73-72 loss to Bryant on Saturday despite playing only eight minutes as he was ejected for hitting a Bryant player in the first half of the game.
The Bryant player; senior guard Doug Edert, then slapped Mintz on the side of the head. The exchange resulted in both players being ejected from the game.
“It was painful,’’ Mintz said.
He was referring to watching the rest of the game on a large screen television in the Syracuse locker room and not Edert’s slap.
“Sitting out and watching the game hurts more than playing in it,’’ Mintz said after the game. “I’m disappointed in myself. I’m proud of my teammates for continuing to fight, but it’s just disappointing.’’
The incident erupted into a melee that resulted in both Mintz and Edert being ejected from the game along with two Bryant players who left the game bench, plus two assistants from both teams in addition to SU’s director of basketball operations for also leaving the bench area.
The play occurred with 7:35 left in the first half and Bryant leading 25-17.
Mintz drove into the lane and charged into a Bryant player. Mintz got his foot tangled with the Bryant player on the floor and Edert shoved him from behind.
At that point, Mintz swung his right arm at Edert, catching him on the face. Mintz turned away and Edert slapped him from behind.
The slap sparked a melee on the baseline at the end of the court near the Bryant bench. Syracuse forward John Bol Ajak saw the slap and charged at Edert.
“I saw him hit Judah,’’ Ajak said. “That’s my brother and I have his back. When someone slaps your friend, you’ve got to step up.’’
Things got heated quickly on Saturday afternoon in Syracuse.
There were a slew of ejections in the first half of the Orange’s 73-72 loss to Bryant on Saturday after a pair of slaps led to a bench-clearing altercation on the floor of the JMA Wireless Dome.
Just after the midway point of the first half, Syracuse guard Judah Mintz drew a foul in the lane. As he started walking up toward the free throw line, he slapped Bryant guard Doug Edert on the face.
Edert quickly retaliated, and came from behind to slap Mintz back on his face before running off. That sparked a larger altercation that led to both teams running out onto the floor.
Both Mintz and Edert were ejected, as were Bryant players Kvonn Cramer and Tyler Brelsford. Syracuse assistant coaches Adrian Autry, Allen Griffin and director of operations Pete Corasaniti were ejected too.
Bryant held a 40-29 lead at halftime. Mintz had seven points and one assist when he was ejected, and Edert finished his night with three points and one assist.
Though the Orange climbed right back into the game in the second half, and even finally took the lead again after a pair of free throws from Joseph Girard in the final seconds, it was Bryant guard Sherif Gross-Bullock who locked down the one-point win for the Bulldogs with a layup right before the final buzzer.
Justin Taylor led the Orange with 25 points off the bench while shooting 6-of-9 from the field. Chris Bell added 14 points, and center Jesse Edwards finished with 12 points and 21 rebounds. Syracuse has now lost two straight, following its 76-69 loss to St. John’s on Tuesday.
Antwan Walker led Bryant with 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Gross-Bullock finished with 15 points of his own. The Bulldogs, who opened the year with a massive 147-39 win over Thomas College, are now 5-1 on the season.
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