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A basketball game between Indiana and Wisconsin was delayed on Tuesday as fire alarms rang throughout Assembly Hall. The pause in action came in the second half with the score tied at 54-54.
The bizarre delay interrupted a key Big Ten conference game, with both teams fighting for postseason opportunities.
The game has been delayed due to the fire alarms going off inside Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Please evacuate if you are inside the building. We will provide further updates when available.
— Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) February 28, 2024
College basketball fans quickly searched for reasoning as to why those alarms sounded but came up empty handed.
The interruption came during an interesting point in the action with the Badgers having gained control of the momentum. After falling behind by 15 points early in the matchup, Wisconsin battled back to cut the deficit to five at the halftime break.
Indiana extended that advantage to eight in the second half before UW made a run.
The Hoosiers were on a four-minute scoring drought prior when the alarms rang out, allowing the Badgers to tie the game for the first time since the opening tip.
Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall has been re-opened. Play will resume after a brief warm-up period.
— Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) February 28, 2024
The delay lasted less than 10 minutes as fans soon returned from the concourse.
Many were quick to comment on the interesting timing of the delay.
“Name another fanbase that wants it bad enough to pull an arena fire alarm when things go poorly.”
“Shoutout to the Indiana fan who pulled the fire alarm to try and change the momentum.”
“NOBODY comes back from 15 down against the Indiana Hoosiers. WE WILL PULL THE FIRE ALARM ON YOU!”
Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard was upset with the Indiana delay.
“I thought it was a great timeout for whoever from Indiana pulled the fire alarm because we were making a run,” Gard said in his postgame press conference.
“It was a great timeout for whoever from Indiana pulled the fire alarm cause we were making a run.”
—Wisconsin’s Greg Gard on the evacuation at Assembly Hallpic.twitter.com/vO1VF3q99T
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) February 28, 2024
The delay halted momentum gained for Wisconsin, giving Indiana a moment to regroup after its scoring drought.
The Hoosiers would go on to win the game, 74-70.