There was a scary moment in Tuesday night’s Elite Eight game between Gonzaga and USC.
In the first quarter of the game, referee Bert Smith abruptly collapsed on the court.
A scary scene in Indy. Official Bert Smith, in his 2nd Elite 8, has just collapsed on the court. Medical personnel on scene bringing out the stretcher. Hope he’s ok 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/oggWUIMizJ
— Anthony Bellino (@ACBellino) March 30, 2021
Here’s the alternate angle of the referee collapsing and you could just see him falling back to the ground.
Bert Smith, veteran NCAA official, just collapsed on the court. He's now on his feet. pic.twitter.com/BOhBvJT01U
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) March 30, 2021
The referee looked dizzy and off-balance just a few moments
The scene before referee Bert Smith collapsed is so scary as he stumbles around the possession before. Hope he will be okay! #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/GirPpX37J3
— Ride The Pine (@RTPSports) March 30, 2021
Thankfully Smith regained consciousness and was stretchered off the court.
Bert Smith is back on his feet. Crowd gives some relieved claps as he sits down on the stretcher
— Adam Grosbard (@AdamGrosbard) March 30, 2021
Referee Bert Smith was stretched off after collapsing in the USC-Gonzaga game.
Hope he's okay 🙏 pic.twitter.com/WZXo7V7nbv
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 30, 2021
Update: Rules analyst Gene Steratore gave an update on Smith’s health status.
“He was feeling light-headed on the court and fell,” . “He’s being attended to by trainers in the locker room. He is stable. What they will do now is Tony Chiazza, who was scheduled to be the standby alternate for the second game this evening will now move up and be the standby alternate for this game and the second game through the remainder of the evening.”