Audio By Carbonatix
LSU went to Kansas State on Thursday night as 8.5-point underdogs and beat one of the most expensive rosters in college basketball by 11. The Wildcats did not appreciate how the Tigers acted after the statement victory, which led to a heated altercation.
Multiple players from both teams briefly went at each other on the court before they were separated into their respective locker rooms.
LSU, which was picked to finish near the bottom of the SEC, shot 50% from the field and 33.33% from beyond the arch during the 76-65 win on the road. It also won the rebound battle by 18 and knocked down as many free throws as Kansas State on two less attempts.
Cam Carter led the way for the Tigers with 20 points. He actually spent the last two college basketball seasons with the Wildcats so there was some extra motivation to leave with a win in his return to the Little Apple.
As could be expected, there was some underlying hostility toward Carter. Kansas State guard Coleman Hawkins, who received an NIL deal worth $2 million as a grad transfer from Illinois during the offseason, let his frustration get the best of him during the closing moments of the loss. He was ready to start the Malice in Manhattan with a full-blown crash out.
Coleman Hawkins is a tool #KState #LSU pic.twitter.com/A1yyXtGjQQ
— Drew (@D5R3E1W) November 15, 2024
Carter did not hold back once the clock hit zero. He ran over to the nearest gaggle of Wildcats and talked his talk, yelling “this is my city” at the crowd.
LSU and Kansas State went at it!
Hawkins stepped in to shut down Carter’s victory lap. Tempers flared.
Cam Carter and Coleman Hawkins just got into it after LSU beat K-State. Carter ran to taunt some K-State fans after postgame handshakes, and Coleman Hawkins was having none of it.
— Jason Kinander (@JasonKinander) November 15, 2024
Both players were held back by teammates.@WIBWsports pic.twitter.com/MbC1DZJUMO
Coleman Hawkins and Cam Carter both had to be restrained.
WATCH:
— Landon Reinhardt (@landonian87) November 15, 2024
K-State's Coleman Hawkins and LSU's Cam Carter had to be restrained after the Tigers knocked off the Wildcats
The two were jawing at each other at the end of the game and it carried over after handshakes pic.twitter.com/e0AmK40r7W
When asked about what happened, the latter actually took some of the blame even though the former should’ve let LSU dribble out the clock.
I heard him saying he was going to steal the ball, and I was trying to stop him from stealing the ball. I wasn’t trying to intentionally foul him. I was trying to give him a little bump to stop his path […]
It was a foul. It’s all good, though. I guess he felt some type of way. It was kind of a dirty play on my part, so I apologize.
— Cam Carter
Kansas State head coach Jerome Tang did not see the play so he did not comment. However, the 58-year-old offered high praise to Carter.
I love Cam Carter and I am so thankful for him and what he gave to K-State. I was a little more emotional than I thought I would be seeing him. But then it stunk watching him play
— Jerome Tang
It sounds like bygones are bygones… for now. The Wildcats and the Tigers likely will not play each other again this season, but it would be very fun to get a rematch in the NCAA Tournament!