Jacksonville State University men's basketball team defeated the University of Texas at El Paso Miners 82-80 on March 1, 2025, at Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas, in the Conference USA regular-season finale. Guard Mostapha El Moutaouakkil hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the victory.[1][2]

The incident occurred after postgame handshakes between the Gamecocks and Miners players. ESPN broadcast footage captured a fan in a white UTEP sweater pointing and yelling at Jacksonville State players.[3][4]

Gamecocks guard Jaye Nash approached the fan, with benches and chairs separating them. Another woman joined the shouting match.[3][4]

The confrontation escalated when the fan picked up a chair. Jacksonville State personnel worked to calm the situation, while UTEP players called for security to intervene.[3][4]

Conference USA is reviewing the incident in consultation with athletic directors from both schools, a league spokesman told ESPN. No further statement was available at the time.[3][5]

UTEP athletic director Jim Senter said the school would review video footage of the altercation. Jacksonville State athletics deferred comment to the conference.[3][6]

The precise cause of the incident is unclear. ESPN broadcasters noted during the game that some fans had been disruptive earlier.[3]

The Conference USA men's basketball tournament begins March 11, 2025, at Propst Arena at Von Braun Center in Huntsville, Alabama.[5][7]

Sources

1. Publisher/Organization name: ESPN
   Article/page title: UTEP 80-82 Jacksonville St. (Final) - Box Score - Mar 1, 2025
   Publication date: March 1, 2025
   Direct URL: https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore/_/gameId/401630709
2. Publisher/Organization name: Jacksonville State University Athletics
   Article/page title: El Moutaouakkil's Buzzer-Beater Lifts Gamecocks Past UTEP
   Publication date: March 1, 2025
   Direct URL: https://jsugamecocksports.com/news/2025/3/1/mens-basketball-el-moutaouakkils-buzzer-beater-lifts-gamecocks-past-utep.aspx
3. Publisher/Organization name: ESPN
   Article/page title: Jacksonville State players confront UTEP fan after Gamecocks' win
   Publication date: March 2, 2025
   Direct URL: https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/43927450/jacksonville-state-utep-fan-confrontation-buzzer-beater
4. Publisher/Organization name: UTEP Miners Athletics
   Article/page title: Men's Basketball Falls to Jacksonville State on Buzzer-Beater
   Publication date: March 1, 2025
   Direct URL: https://utepminers.com/news/2025/3/1/mens-basketball-falls-to-jacksonville-state-on-buzzer-beater.aspx
5. Publisher/Organization name: Conference USA
   Article/page title: 2025 C-USA Men's Basketball Championship Central
   Publication date: Accessed March 2, 2025
   Direct URL: https://conferenceusa.com/sports/mbball/2024-25/championships