Fitchburg State suspended basketball player Kewan Platt after a violent incident during a game against Nichols College, Tuesday night.
A video, heavily circulated on the internet on Wednesday, showed Platt slowly approach Nichols’ Nate Tenaglia after a 3-point attempt in the corner.
While Tenaglia was holding his follow through, Platt caught him with a vicious right-elbow to the face, sending him to the floor.
According to a Yahoo Sports report, the play led to Platt’s second technical of the game leading to his ejection. Tenaglia picked himself off the floor after a few moments.
The school also noted that Platt has been barred from the campus.
Fitchburg State responded to the incident with a statement on Twitter:
“The Fitchburg State community is appalled by the conduct displayed during Tuesday’s home basketball game. The player involved has been indefinitely suspended from the team and barred from campus.”
The statement continued:
“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.”
Platt is Fitchburg’s leading scorer, averaging 21.7 points a game.
Nichols College also released a statement on Twitter:
“The Nichols College student athlete was able to complete the game and we continue to monitor his health. We are proud of the way our student athletes handled the incident and that they did not allow it to escalate.”
Tenaglia made the 3-pointer, and Nichols beat Fitchburg 84-75.
Platt issued a statement on Instagram, Wednesday:
“I hereby want to apologize and show my deep regret upon my actions that occurred during the game against Nichols College the other night. What I did was totally unacceptable and not justified in any way. I got frustrated and lost control over my behavior. I know these words cannot undo my wrongdoings. In the future I promise to make better choices.
“I’m not only apologizing to Nate Tenaglia but also to my teammates, the coaching staff, the University and the whole basketball community.”
