Six ejected as tempers flare in LSU-South Carolina SEC title game

South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso was one of six players ejected from the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship game after shoving LSU’s Flau’jae Johnson to the ground late in the fourth quarter on Sunday.

Gamecocks guard MiLaysia Fulwiley had stolen the ball from Johnson, who wrapped her up and was called for an intentional foul. Johnson bumped South Carolina’s Ashlyn Watkins as she walked to her bench, and then the 6-foot-2 Cardoso rushed in and pushed the 6-foot-2 Johnson to the ground.

A total of four South Carolina players were ejected, leaving the Gamecocks with six players remaining. LSU was left with just the starting five players after two reserves were disqualified. The Gamecocks held on to win 79-72, and will enter March Madness undefeated this season.

A man identified on the ESPN broadcast as Johnson’s brother jumped over the scorer’s table onto the field and briefly made contact with Cardoso before being led away by police officers.

Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley, who shouted at the LSU bench during the incident, then apologized to the crowd on behalf of the ejected players, saying their emotions got the best of them.

“I know it didn’t come from a bad place,” Staley said.

The Gamecocks led 73-66 with 2:08 to play when the commotion occurred, and the game was delayed for about 15 minutes while officials reviewed video of the incident.

Cardoso, South Carolina’s leading scorer and rebounder, could miss time in the NCAA tournament. She hit the game-winning 3-pointer, her first as a college player, with 1.1 seconds to play on Saturday in South Carolina’s 74-73 win over Tennessee.

Cardoso had eight points, six rebounds and three blocks in 22 minutes against LSU.