Brawl causes 15-minute delay

ALBUQUERQUE —  In a game that was halted for more than 15 minutes because of a brawl, New Mexico defeated Wyoming, 91-83, Tuesday night.

The fight broke out beneath the Wyoming basket with 1 minute 10 seconds remaining. Wyoming guards Brandon Ewing and Brad Jones and New Mexico guard Jamaal Smith were ejected. The ejections carry a one-game suspension for each player. Ewing is the leading scorer in the Mountain West Conference.

Ewing and Smith ended up on the court and as they struggled to get to their feet, made contact. As players from both teams converged, Jones shoved New Mexico guard J.R. Giddens. Smith threw a punch at Jones, then ended up on the court again.

With coaches, officials and other players trying to break it up, Smith got up and was pulled away by referee David Hall. Smith broke free from Hall and had to be restrained by New Mexico Coach Ritchie McKay.

Wyoming Coach Steve McClain argued with a fan as he headed up the arena’s tunnel after the game, then said as he neared the Wyoming locker room, “Real class place this is.”

New Mexico (13-10 overall, 2-6 MWC) made 36 of 50 free throws to Wyoming’s 21 of 32. There were 57 fouls.

McClain said he felt the game turned in New Mexico’s favor in the second half, when New Mexico shot 39 free throws and made 29. Wyoming (13-9, 4-4) shot 29 free throws in the second half.

“Anybody that was watching the game saw it change,” McClain said. “We do one thing. We drive to the rim and get fouled. And we didn’t see any of those” calls.