© Denny Medley-Imagn Images
A college basketball game between A-10 rivals Saint Louis and Virginia Commonwealth was briefly put on pause late in the second half after a massive brawl erupted in the stands. Fans from each side began fighting as players and coaches stopped to watch.
The wild scene saw haymakers being thrown as attendees toppled down rows of bleachers. The cause of the skirmish is unclear, but it made instant waves on social media.
HOLY COW. Huge fight behind the VCU bench.
Has stopped everything. VCU’s whole bench and staff are looking up into the crowd.
— Mid-Major Madness (@mid_madness) January 29, 2025
The brawl involved a number of fans, some decked out in Saint Louis blue and others donning Virginia Commonwealth yellow. In angles seen on the television broadcast, those rowdy patrons are seen trying to get their hands on anyone and everyone, including law enforcement.
Police officers and security did their best to deescalate the situation. That job was made difficult as more and more fans began leaving their seats to join the action.
It just means more in the A10 pic.twitter.com/gtCwuIvia6
— William James (@williamcjames23) January 29, 2025
Views from inside the arena gave greater insight into just how wide that fight spanned. It seemed the large majority of two different sections were involved in some way, shape, or form.
Making the scene all the more bizarre, the college basketball brawl played out as Icona Pop’s “I Don’t Care” blared across the arena loudspeakers.
Getting into a fight in an A10 arena while “I Love It” by Icona Pop blares is something the rest of us in the A10 community can only hope to be a part of one day pic.twitter.com/AEyhHt2GNi
— Hawk Enthusiast #BillyOut (@thwnd1410) January 29, 2025
The altercation was sparked with just over a minute left in regulation. Saint Louis led 69-63 at the time. Eventually, authorities were able to clear the scene and basketball play resumed. The Billikens would go onto win the conference matchup, 78-69, to improve to 13-8 on the season.