Eastern Illinois’ Kinyon Hodges tackles a FAN in a loss to Lindenwood… but the wild punch fails to land and the junior guard is called for a technical foul
A men’s basketball player for Eastern Illinois tackles a fan sitting in the front row of a game against Lindenwood University in St. Louis suburb of St. Charles, Missouri.
Kinyon Hodges, an EIU player from Cape Girardeau, Missouri, was seen trying to punch a Lindenwood fan in the first half of Thursday’s 80-67 loss to the Lions. Hodges did not make contact with the fan, so a technical foul was assessed, but allowed to remain in the game.
The EIU said any discipline would be ‘handled internally.’
‘We do not condone this type of behavior by our men’s basketball team or any of our 500 student-athletes,’ read a statement from EIU athletic director Tom Michael.
‘The issue has been addressed to both players involved for EIU as well as the Ohio Valley Conference with any disciplinary action being handled internally. The player in question understands that this is not the type of behavior displayed by our student-athletes or our men’s basketball program and in the heat of the moment let his emotions get the best of him. This will be a learning moment going forward and we apologize to anyone who may have been affected by the incident.’
A men’s basketball player for Eastern Illinois tackles a fan sitting in the front row during the game against Lindenwood University in St. Louis suburb of St. Charles, Missouri. Kinyon Hodges (pictured Dec. 21) is seen trying to punch a Lindenwood fan during the first half of Thursday’s 80-67 loss to the Lions. Hodges did not make contact with the fan, so a technical foul was assessed, but allowed to remain in the game
The blow was thrown with 2:26 left in the first half when Hodges got distracted on offense, turned the live ball away and walked toward the sideline.
He is seen jawing with someone in the crowd before swinging. The fan took a step back to avoid the blow, but immediately stood up and taunted Hodges as he was whistled for a technical foul.
Meanwhile, teammate Nick Ellington is seen dunking a Lindenwood player in the background while Hodges focuses on his altercation with the fan.
Hodges played 24 minutes Thursday, scoring two points on four shots. For the season, he is averaging 13.8 points and 3.6 rebounds a game.
The Division I squad is 7-17 for the season and 3-8 in OVC play.
Eastern Illinois, which includes former NBA coach PJ Carlesimo’s son, Kyle, made national news earlier this season by upsetting Iowa. The 92-83 win in Iowa City was the biggest upset by point spread in the modern era.
The game marked the first time a 30-point favorite lost a college basketball game in 30 years, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
A New Jersey bettor bet on Eastern Illinois, putting $1,000 on the moneyline (+1000) to pocket $10,000, a company spokesperson told DailyMail.com.
Incredibly, 60th-ranked Iowa held an early 18-4 lead, and the Big Ten school looked to be on its way to an easy win. Instead, the 350th-ranked Panthers pulled away from the Hawkeyes in the final moments of the game, as point guard Hodges finished with 22 points.
‘We chipped away,’ Eastern Illinois coach Marty Simmons told reporters afterward. ‘I think going into halftime down eight was a real blessing for us. I think our guys felt they had a chance if they played well in the second half.’
With Iowa entering as a 31 1/2-point favorite, the upset proved to be the largest point spread in the modern era, according to Caesars Sportsbook.
