MORGANTOWN (UPI) —West Virginia University broke a three-game losing skein here during the weekend, but the game was marred by a fracas between two Syracuse players and referee Herb Young. West Virginia downed the Orangemen 94-84 when the gamewas called with 1:01 remaining after Syracuse's 6-foot-ll center Bill Smith threw a punch at Young. The referee had just called Smith's fifth personal foul of the game. Then, Syracuse forward Bob Me Daniel dashed off the bench and swatted at the referee with a warmup jersey.

McDaniel had been ejected from the game seven seconds earlier on a technical foul after a pushing foul had been called, and McDaniel disputed the call. A fan joined in the action running from the stands and tackling Smith. Police and ushers then broke up the fracas that had spread to the sidelines. No civil charges were lodged police said.

WVU athletic director Robert N. (Red) Brown said, "I can't understand spectators doing things like this." When the new WVU coliseum is finished next year, the fans will be far enough away from the playing floor that if anybody wanted to come on the floor, anything happening would be over before he got there,'' Brown said.

The Mountaineers took a 45-43 halftime lead, but Syracuse moved three points ahead with three minutes left. West Virginia bounded back and punched in 10 straight points before Syracuse broke the spell with 1:49 remaining on a field goal by Smith. The rally fell short when only two more points were scored by the Orangemen.

The shorter Mountaineers outrebounded Syracuse 47-36. Bob Hummell led the WVU, scoring with 32 points and Will Robinsin had 25. McDaniel led Syracuse with 27 points and Ernie Austin had 21.

Posted to OrangeHoops.org on 6/3/2007 by RLYoung