Skip to main content
Come Fan with UsTuesday, August 4, 2026

College basketball game ends with teams playing 4-on-5 after bench-clearing scuffle

Louisiana Tech lost the game, but they actually won because they outscored UAB while playing with four players.

NCAA Basketball: Louisiana Tech at UAB
NCAA Basketball: Louisiana Tech at UAB
Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Louisiana Tech was forced to play the final 6:03 of its game against UAB Thursday night with just four players after a bench-clearing fight between the two teams resulted in mass ejections.

The Bulldogs lost the game, 79-70, but they did salvage some pride by outscoring UAB while playing a man down.

The fight started when UAB’s Hakeem Baxter threw a punch that appeared to connect with Louisiana Tech’s Jacobi Boykins’ neck. Both of those players were assessed flagrant technicals and ejected.

Outside of the initial blow, there didn’t appear to be any subsequent punches thrown in the scuffle. Still, the fact that every Louisiana Tech player left the bench led to the mass ejections and the Bulldogs being forced to end the game with only four players.

The game had significance outside of the bizarre circumstances that it ended with, as both teams now sit at 6-2 and in a three-way tie for second in the Conference USA standings. Middle Tennessee, one of the biggest stories of last season’s NCAA tournament, leads the league with a perfect 8-0 record.

Men's College Basketball
College basketball’s 9 national championship contenders for 2027 men’s titleCollege basketball’s 9 national championship contenders for 2027 men’s title
Men's College Basketball

These teams can win it all this season in men’s college basketball.

By Ricky O'Donnell
Men's College Basketball
College basketball rankings: Updated men’s top 25 after busy summer of movementCollege basketball rankings: Updated men’s top 25 after busy summer of movement
Men's College Basketball
UCLA lands Nikola Kusturica, its best recruit since Lonzo Ball and a top 2028 NBA Draft pickUCLA lands Nikola Kusturica, its best recruit since Lonzo Ball and a top 2028 NBA Draft pick
Men's College Basketball

Kusturica will be a 17-year-old freshman phenom at UCLA before entering the NBA Draft in 2028.

By Ricky O'Donnell
NBA
Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje is the best prospect in the world outside of the NBA, and Duke is nextJoaquim Boumtje Boumtje is the best prospect in the world outside of the NBA, and Duke is next
NBA

Duke struck gold again. The NBA is already salivating over Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje for 2028.

By Ricky O'Donnell
Men's College Basketball
Dusty May’s stunning NBA departure leaves Michigan facing its biggest test yetDusty May’s stunning NBA departure leaves Michigan facing its biggest test yet
Men's College Basketball

How will Michigan recover from losing Dusty May?

By Mike Rutherford