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Eight Cincinnati, Xavier players suspended

CINCINNATI, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Four University of Cincinnati basketball players and four Xavier University opponents were suspended Sunday for a game-ending brawl during a weekend game.

The benches-clearing melee broke out 10 seconds before the conclusion of No. 8 Xavier's 76-53 win over the Bearcats Saturday.

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Cincinnati senior forward Yancy Gates, freshman forward Octavius Ellis and junior center Cheikh Mbodj were each suspended six games while freshman guard Ge'Lawn Guyn was issued a one-game penalty.

Xavier, meanwhile, suspended freshman Dezmine Wells and sophomore Landen Amos for four contests and junior Mark Lyons was given a two-game penalty.

Also sitting for one game is the Muskateers' leading scorer, senior Tu Holloway.

The Big East Conference fully supported the penalties handed down by the school, Commissioner John Marinatto said in a statement.

"The very unfortunate events that occurred in the final seconds of Saturday's Cincinnati-Xavier basketball game have no place within intercollegiate athletics," he said. "The University of Cincinnati has responded with swift, expeditious and appropriate action."

"We accept full responsibility for our part in the events that occurred at the end of our game (Saturday)," Xavier Athletic Director Mike Bobinski said. "It was both embarrassing and disappointing and clearly did not reflect the standards of behavior we expect from our student-athletes."

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The trouble broke out when Xavier's Wells shoved Cincinnati's Guyn as the latter argued with Holloway near one of the baskets.

Video footage revealed Gates punching the face of Xavier center Kenny Frease, who sustained a cut over the left eye.

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