Georgetown basketball involved in China melee
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Georgetown men's basketball team, on tour in China, was involved in a fracas on court Thursday in a game against the Bayi Rockets.
Players from both teams apparently exchanged blows during the contest and fans, according to the Washington Post, responded by throwing water bottles at the Hoya players as they left the court.
The Post said Georgetown head coach John Thompson III pulled his team off the floor with more than nine minutes left in the contest, which was tied at 64-64 when the incident began.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Tonight, two great teams played a very competitive game that unfortunately ended after heated exchanges with both teams. We sincerely regret that this situation occurred," said Thompson in a statement released by the school.
"We remain grateful for the opportunity our student-athletes are having to engage in a sport they love here in China, while strengthening their understanding of a nation we respect and admire at Georgetown University."
The Hoyas began their four-game tour on Wednesday in Beijing with a 98-81 win over the Shanxi Dragons. The schedule calls for the team to visit Shanghai with another game against the Bayi Rockets on Sunday followed by a Monday contest against Shandong.