Fan Runs Onto Basketball Court for Face-to-Face Confrontation With Coach

Players intervened when the UC Santa Barbara fan ran from several rows up in the stands and stormed across the court toward Hawaii coach Gib Arnold

A UC Santa Barbara fan sprinted onto the basketball court to confront the opposing team's coach Thursday night before he was restrained by players and escorted out of the arena.

The fan, wearing a UCSB Class of 2014 shirt, raced from several rows up in the stands, across the court and began yelling in the face of Hawaii head coach Gib Arnold, who had just been whistled for a technical foul. The fan ran back into the stands after Hawaii players pushed him away from Arnold.

"It was a little crazy to have a fan pushing your players around," Arnold told ESPN. "I've never seen it. You don't expect it."

As he was escorted from the arena, the fan continued to gesture at other fans.

The Gauchos defeated Hawaii, 86-77.

Thursday night's confrontation occurred with about 6 minutes remaining in the first half, when Santa Barbara held a 30-16 lead. Arnold received the technical foul after coming onto the court to speak with officials about a call against one of his players.

Hawaii forward Christian Standhardinger got between the fan and Arnold before teammate Garrett Nevels shoved him away and motioned for him to return to the stands. The relatively undersized fan gestured for players to fight with him as he backed away.

A UC Santa Barbara spokesman told ESPN the man, believed to be a student, was arrested by campus police.

The on-court confrontation came about one week after fans stormed onto the court during a Utah Valley State-New Mexico State game, starting a brawl that resulted in player suspensions.

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