Fitchburg State basketball player suspended for elbowing opponent in the face
"The Fitchburg State community is appalled by the conduct displayed during Tuesday night’s home basketball game."
Freshman guard Nate Tenaglia was struck in the face by an opponent after hitting a 3-point shot with just under three minutes to go in a Tuesday night men’s basketball game between Massachusetts Division-III colleges Nichols College (1-0) and Fitchburg State (1-2).
Tenaglia, who helped Nichols defeat Fitchburg 84-75 in the team’s season opener, fell to the ground in pain after Fitchburg junior guard Kewan Platt hit him.
WATCH: A player at Fitchburg State University threw an elbow at an opponent from Nichols college last night. https://t.co/eKaEeNbVjz pic.twitter.com/uWf6jI7gpp
— Boston 25 News (@boston25) November 14, 2018
Platt was immediately given his second technical foul of the game, resulting in his ejection. Tenaglia remained in the game and hit two of his three ensuing free throws.
On Wednesday, Fitchburg State issued a statement condemning Platt’s act and suspending him from basketball and from the college’s campus:
The Fitchburg State community is appalled by the conduct displayed during Tuesday night’s home basketball game. The player involved has been indefinitely suspended from the team and barred from campus, effective immediately.
His behavior is antithetical to our community values and good sportsmanship. Fitchburg State does not tolerate behavior that violates those standards. The case is being reviewed at the student conduct level for consideration of further sanctions.
Nichols athletic director Chris Colvin told TMZ that Tenaglia is OK and that Fitchburg State athletics director Matthew Burke called to apologize for Platt’s actions.
