On Friday, Auburn's males's basketball workforce confronted an uncommon state of affairs when an altercation between two gamers resulted within the workforce's airplane turning round mid-flight. Auburn, ranked No. 11 within the AP ballot, was about to face Houston, ranked No. four, with the sport scheduled for Saturday night time.
The 2 gamers, recognized by a number of stories as freshman Jahki Howard and senior Ja'Heim Hudson, had been left behind because the workforce traveled to Houston later Friday. Each Howard and Hudson are reserves however performed important minutes in Auburn's season opener in opposition to Vermont earlier this week.
The bodily altercation, initially described as “horseplay”, was severe sufficient that the pilots determined to desert the flight plan. The flight reportedly traveled for 45 minutes earlier than returning dwelling.
Air site visitors management audio signifies that a pilot informed air site visitors controllers that “we've received a bunch of basketball gamers combating” whereas nonetheless in Alabama airspace. The pilots informed air site visitors controllers that “garments had been torn” through the altercation and that police had been on the bottom when the flight landed.
Auburn College has not but launched an official assertion in regards to the incident.
The Tigers and Cougars will sq. off at 9:30 PM ET within the Toyota Middle, dwelling of the Houston Rockets.