College Basketball Brawl Leaves Ref Knocked Out Cold

Players from South Alabama and Coastal Carolina turn violent during Sun Belt Tournament game

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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A women's college basketball game between South Alabama and Coastal Carolina at the Sun Belt Tournament in Pensacola, Florida descended into a massive brawl, resulting in multiple player ejections and a referee being knocked unconscious after being struck by one of the players.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the ongoing issue of violence and unsportsmanlike conduct in college sports, which can lead to serious injuries for players, coaches, and officials. It also raises questions about player discipline and the ability of referees to maintain control of games when tensions escalate.

The details

The fight broke out with about 6 minutes left in the game, after South Alabama's Cordasia Harris bumped Coastal Carolina's Tracey Hueston. Hueston then pushed Harris, leading to both benches clearing and a chaotic brawl ensuing. In the melee, Hueston appeared to strike referee Marla Gearhar in the head or neck as officials tried to separate the players. Both Harris and Hueston were ejected, along with 6 other players. Referee Gearhar was knocked unconscious and had to be attended to by medical staff before being released.

  • The incident occurred on March 4, 2026 during the Sun Belt Tournament in Pensacola, Florida.
  • The fight broke out with about 6 minutes remaining in the game between South Alabama and Coastal Carolina.

The players

Cordasia Harris

A player for the South Alabama women's basketball team who was involved in the fight.

Tracey Hueston

A player for the Coastal Carolina women's basketball team who was involved in the fight and struck the referee.

Marla Gearhar

The referee who was knocked unconscious after being struck during the brawl.

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What they’re saying

“With young people, sometimes emotions run high and as they go through their growth process and their maturity, sometimes things happen.”

— Yolisha Jackson, South Alabama women's basketball coach (The New York Times)

“Tracey Hueston is an incredible model citizen off the floor and she knows she can't act that way.”

— Kevin Pederson, Coastal Carolina women's basketball coach (The New York Times)

What’s next

The Sun Belt Conference has announced suspensions for the players involved, including a season-ending suspension for Tracey Hueston of Coastal Carolina. The University of South Alabama has also stated they will use this incident as an opportunity to learn and improve their sportsmanship efforts.

The takeaway

This brawl highlights the ongoing challenge of maintaining control and sportsmanship in college athletics, where emotions can sometimes boil over and lead to violent incidents that put players, coaches, and officials at risk of serious injury. It underscores the need for stronger disciplinary measures and better training to prevent such outbursts in the future.