Somerset. NJ -- In accordance with Northeast Conference (NEC) sportsmanship principles, NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris has announced disciplinary actions following a series of incidents involving the Bryant and LIU men's basketball teams on Sunday.
Following a thorough review of available video footage as well as reports submitted by both institutions and the officiating crew, the following disciplinary actions have been assessed:
- Two-game suspension to Bryant student-athlete Peter Kiss; one-game issued by Bryant and an additional game issued by the NEC
- One-game suspension issued by the NEC to LIU head coach Derek Kellogg
- One-game suspension issued by the NEC to LIU student-athletes Ty Flowers and Alex Rivera
- One-game suspension issued by Bryant to Director of Operations Luke St. Lifer
These suspensions will be enforced starting with the next scheduled game for each team.
Public reprimands are being issued by the NEC to the following individuals for their respective roles in escalating tensions during Sunday’s game:
- Bryant head coach Jared Grasso and Peter Kiss
- LIU’s Derek Kellogg, Ty Flowers, Alex Rivera and student-athlete Tre Wood
- Both programs for leaving the bench area during a first half altercation
The NEC Sportsmanship Policy states the following:
Member institutions' student-athletes, coaches and staff shall conduct themselves in an appropriate manner in connection with all intercollegiate sporting events in which they participate. They shall conduct themselves as positive role models and represent their institutions in a manner that exhibits the principles of sportsmanship. They shall exhibit respect and courtesy towards all participants, and comment about other institutions, coaches and student-athletes only in a positive manner. Behavior that is not considered sportsmanlike or appropriate includes attempts to incite violence, as well as obscene, profane, demeaning or unduly provocative language, gestures or actions directed towards an opposing team, institution, contest official, staff member or spectator.
"The egregious behavior and glaring lack of sportsmanship demonstrated during Sunday's men's basketball game between Bryant and LIU were completely unacceptable," said Morris. "Both programs failed to uphold the high standards we have set relative to good sportsmanship and competing with respect and dignity. This type of behavior is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. We expect our student-athletes and coaches to be better teammates, opponents and role models."
The NEC is also conducting a thorough review of the game to determine if officiating procedures were applied correctly and video review procedures were conducted properly.