UTEP fan’s clash with Jacksonville State players under review

The University of Texas-El Paso, Jacksonville State and Conference USA will review the controversy that included a heated confrontation with Jacksonville State players Saturday when a UTEP fan lifted a chair.

Jacksonville State recently won its regular season finale at UTEP on a buzzer-beater Mustafa Al Mutaukkil When a fan in the stands grabbed a chair, waved it at Jacksonville State players and staff and yelled at them as they were in the postgame handshake line. Jacksonville State players had to be restrained from behind by staff after a fan snatched a chair.

Conference USA spokesman Josh Yonis said CUSA is looking into the results after the game.

“We are reviewing the incident together with both [athletic directors]But we don’t have any statement at this time,” he told ESPN.

UTEP athletic director Jim Center also said the school is investigating the incident.

“We will review the video once we receive it,” he said in a statement. “We will take appropriate action as necessary.”

Jacksonville State told ESPN it would “defer” to Conference USA for comment.

Jacksonville State employees and local police moved into the trash as the chair fan continued yelling at the players. Other videos also showed other UTEP fans going back and forth with Jacksonville State players after the win.

It wasn’t the first time in recent weeks that UTEP was at the center of a dramatic finale involving the handshake line.

Following a loss at New Mexico State on February 21, UTEP head coach Joe Golding went toe-to-toe with NMSU head coach Jason Hooten in the handshake line, patting Hooten’s chest and pushing him aside before both teams united and a fight nearly broke out.

On Saturday, UTEP Arena security formed a line to form a boundary between unruly UTEP fans and Jacksonville State players and staff after the game. At one point, UTEP staff and players sent their team back to its locker room, and Jacksonville State staff did the same with their team.

According to the broadcast, there were exchanges between UTEP fans and Jacksonville State throughout the game.