CHAPEL HILL : The Atlantic Coast Conference fined North Carolina $50,000 on Sunday after fans stormed the court following the 14th-ranked Tar Heels’ 71-68 upset of No. 4 Duke a night earlier.
Duke coach Jon Scheyer said after the game that members of his staff were punched amid the postgame chaos after North Carolina’s Seth Trimble hit a game-winning three-pointer with 0.4 seconds remaining.
In a statement, the ACC said North Carolina violated the league’s event security policy, which is designed to protect the safety of student-athletes, coaches, officials and fans. The conference said the $50,000 fine was issued as a first offense.
North Carolina accepted the fine, saying it had followed its protocols to ensure Duke’s players, staff and the game officials were escorted off the court safely.
“We will continue to review our protocols to provide the highest measures of safety in the event fans rush the court,” the university said. “We consider this matter closed and look forward to the rest of the season.”
There were two court-storming incidents, as time remained on the clock after Trimble’s basket. Fans initially rushed the floor, were cleared so Duke could run a final play, and then stormed the court again after the final buzzer.
Scheyer said his primary concern was player and staff safety rather than the result.
“I got staff members that got punched in the face,” Scheyer said. “My family pushing people away, trying to not get trampled. That’s not what this game is about.”
North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham said he apologized to Scheyer after the game, acknowledging the situation was disappointing.
The ACC said all fines collected under the policy are directed to a scholarship fund for conference student-athletes pursuing graduate education.
