NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Arkansas’ athletic director has apologized after a Kentucky student journalist said his cell phone was grabbed and…
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Arkansas’ athletic director has apologized after a Kentucky student journalist said his cell phone was grabbed and thrown to the ground by a Razorbacks employee following an early exit from the Southeastern Conference tournament.
Assistants had to hold back Arkansas coach Eric Musselman several times 67-61 losses Friday night in the quarterfinals, where No. 18 Texas A&M rallied from a 13-point deficit.
Journalist Jack Weaver of the Kentucky Kernel, an independent student newspaper at the University of Kentucky, tweeted video shows Musselman walking off the court after the game and a staff member behind him who appears to knock the phone out of Weaver’s hand. Weaver covered Kentucky in the next game.
Arkansas Vice Chancellor and Athletic Director Hunter Jurachek issued a statement It said on Saturday that the actions of Riley Hall’s support staff “were not consistent with our program.” Yurachak also said that there was no malicious intent, “Mr. Hall expressed regret that his involvement inadvertently resulted in him knocking a cell phone out of a reporter’s hand as he left the room.’
With the loss, Arkansas (20-13) must wait until Sunday’s NCAA Tournament announcement to learn its postseason fate.
Texas A&M (24-8) advanced to the semifinals for the second year in a row, where it will play Vanderbilt, which defeated Kentucky.
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