A video shows a Division III basketball player delivering a vicious elbow shot directly to an opposing player’s face, but only after he looked to see if the ref was paying attention first.
The shocking video shows Fitchburg State’s Kewan Platt trotting toward Nichols College player Nate Tenaglia. Platt clearly looked over to see if the line referee was looking before delivering a mean stiff arm to Tenaglia’s face leaving him writhing on the boards, For The Win reported.
The incident occurred during Tuesday’s game played in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, that ended in an 84-75 win for Nichols.
It was not clear what actions were taken on game night, but by Wednesday the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference took harsh action against Platt and not only suspended him from the sport but also banned him from the campus. Fitchburg State has not yet chimed in with any actions of its own but according to Sporting News the college is considering its options.
“The MASCAC and Fitchburg State University take this incident very seriously,” MASCAC Commissioner Angela Baumann said a statement. “We are appalled by the actions of the student-athlete.
Baumann added that Platt “has been indefinitely suspended from the team and barred from campus. In addition, the case is under review by Fitchburg State for consideration of further sanctions. The MASCAC has also vacated his Player of the Week award.”
“His behavior goes against the MASCAC’s mission, which includes good sportsmanship. On behalf of the MASCAC and Fitchburg State, we apologize to the Nichols College student-athlete, the team, and institution,” Baumann concluded.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston
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