FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas is getting fined $100,000 by the Southeastern Conference (SEC) for fans storming the Bud Walton Arena court after the Razorback men's basketball team won against Duke University on Nov. 29.
The Razorbacks, who are unranked, defeated the seventh-ranked Blue Devils, 80-75, in front of a record-breaking crowd of 20,344.
According to the SEC, Arkansas violated the "league's access to competition area policy," which was introduced to the conference at the 2023 SEC Spring Meetings, by letting fans onto the court.
"Institutions shall limit access to competition areas to participating student-athletes, coaches, officials, support personnel, and properly credentialed or authorized individuals at all times. For the safety of participants and spectators alike, at no time before, during, or after a contest may spectators enter the competition area," the policy says.
Any SEC-sponsored team can be fined for violating this policy. This is the Razorback's first offense. On second offenses, teams are fined $250,000, and on third offenses, teams are fined $500,000.
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