Akron Zips Coach Discusses Player Ejection

Groce provides details on officials' decision to eject Mahaffey during game against UMass

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Akron Zips basketball coach John Groce spoke to reporters about the ejection of player Evan Mahaffey during a game against UMass. Groce said he received an explanation from officials about their decision to eject Mahaffey, though the details of the incident are unclear from the available information.

Why it matters

Player ejections are rare and significant events in college basketball, often sparking debate around the officials' judgment and the impact on the team. Groce's comments provide insight into how coaches handle these situations and interact with game officials.

The details

The video shows Groce discussing the ejection, though the specifics of what led to Mahaffey being ejected are not provided. Groce said he received an explanation from the officials about their decision, but did not elaborate further on the nature of the incident.

  • The ejection occurred during Akron's game against UMass on February 14, 2026.

The players

John Groce

The head coach of the Akron Zips basketball team.

Evan Mahaffey

A player on the Akron Zips basketball team who was ejected from the game against UMass.

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What they’re saying

“We received an explanation from the officials on the ejection, but I'm not going to get into the details of that.”

— John Groce, Head Coach, Akron Zips Basketball (beaconjournal.com)

The takeaway

While the specifics of the incident are unclear, Groce's comments highlight the importance of open communication between coaches and officials, even in the aftermath of a controversial call like a player ejection.