WATCH: 5 Technicals, a Player Gets Slammed to the Ground as NCAA Game Gets Chippy

With two months into the season, the heat and pressure of winning the 2023-24 NCAA championship are taking a toll on players, as they aren’t able to control their emotions leading to unsportsmanlike conduct. Alasia Smith of the Memphis Tigers is the latest addition to this list as she leaves the fans in disbelief after an unexpected action. 

In a highly anticipated matchup between the UAB Blazers and the Memphis Tigers, a series of drama unfolded as Smith intentionally fouled Mia Moore, leaving fans and benched players jumping from their seats. 

Breaking bad 

During the fourth quarter of the game, the scoreboard showcased the score of 59-64, in the favor of the Blazers. With only 20 seconds left on the clock, the ball was in the possession of a Memphis player who attempted a highly-contested three-pointer but missed. 

Inside the paint, Mia Moore and Alasia Smith were ready to secure the ball, and with her impressive speed and court vision, Moore secured the rebound. But what unfolded next had the fans’ jaws dropped.

As she got the ball, Moore was asking for a timeout from the refs, however in a split second, Smith let the game get the best of her and she slammed Moore to the ground. This resulted in the ejection of players from both teams for leaving the bench, and Moore received a technical foul as she went to confront Smith for her actions. 

This incident, mirrored by incidents like the confrontation between LSU’s Angel Reese and Missouri’s Hayley Frank, signals a pressing issue within the basketball community. As players let the mounting pressure and emotions get the best of them, it becomes evident that attitude management is the need of the hour for these players. 

Read More: Controversial Double Technicals Add Drama to NC State vs Virginia Clash

Notably, this game ended with the final score of 65-63, which marked the eleventh win for the Blazers in the ongoing 2023-24 NCAA season. 

How’ve Blazers performed so far?

The UAB Blazers are having one of their best NCAA seasons so far and it’s all thanks to their star guard, Mia Moore who is leading the program in pointers per game (16.8), rebounds per game (10.5), and steals per game (1.7). The Blazers have played fourteen matches till now, out of which they have won eleven and lost three. The only losses they have recorded are against Eastern Kentucky, Auburn, and St. Joseph. 

The team is all set to play against the Charlotte 49ers in their next match, where fans will be eagerly waiting to watch how the Blazer story unfolds.

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