VCU closes with 4 players as benches clear in loss to Saint Louis

"With his team up double digits in the final seconds, Billikens guard Quentin Jones tried to dribble out the last moments of regulation but not before he bumped an opposing player. VCU's Nyk Lewis stole the ball from Jones but was bumped out of bounds by SLU standout Robbie Avila. That sequence led to players and staffers from both teams spilling onto the floor in a chaotic scene."

"Avila was subsequently whistled for a foul, while VCU's Barry Evans and SLU's Jones were both hit with flagrant 2 fouls and ejected. Most of the players on both benches were also ejected after players ran onto the court once the fight started. That left the Rams with just four players in the final 1.1 seconds of the game, and only five for the Billikens."

Saint Louis rallied from a double-digit deficit to defeat VCU 88-75, overturning a 45-35 VCU lead with 18:42 remaining via a 53-30 run. Near the end of regulation, Quentin Jones bumped an opponent while dribbling out the clock, leading to a steal attempt, an out-of-bounds bump by Robbie Avila, and a chaotic altercation that spilled players and staff onto the floor. Officials assessed fouls and multiple flagrant-2s; Barry Evans and Quentin Jones were ejected and many bench players were removed. The sequence left VCU with four players and Saint Louis with five in the final 1.1 seconds. Avila scored 13 points and characterized the outcome as fueled by intense emotions, not ill intent. The win extended Saint Louis' lead in the Atlantic 10 race.

Read at ESPN.com