Siena coach Jimmy Patsos shakes invisible hands after game
Jan 18, 2017, 8:11 AM
Tuesday night’s college basketball game between the Siena Saints and the Rider Broncs of the MAAC had a little bit of everything.
Siena guard Lavon Long had a huge game, scoring a career-high 29 points while grabbing 12 rebounds in a 78-68 win.
There was also a fight. With about two minutes to go, tempers flared between the two teams, and not just the players. Siena head coach Jimmy Patsos mixed it up with Rider’s Kevin Baggett in a prime example of “hey, you don’t see that every day.”
Following the game, Rider players and coaches opted not to shake the hands of their opponent and congratulate them on the win. They walked off the court, leaving Patsos and his team hanging. Sort of.
The fourth-year head coach just shook imaginary hands in the line in what was a bizarre but amusing moment.
Patsos took it all in stride. “It’s January. Everybody’s fighting for position. They’re competitors. And if you’re looking for me to say anything bad about Kevin Baggett, I’m not. I love that guy,” he said, according to TimesUnion.com.
Baggett explained after the contest that he instructed his team to walk off the court to avoid another dust-up.
In case you’re wondering, the two teams split their games this season, but could meet again in the MAAC Tournament, which begins March 2 in Albany.
Classic video of Siena coach Jimmy Patsos shaking hands with air as Rider walks off without showing sportsmanship. pic.twitter.com/WHtmc9WTEq
— Zach Bye (@byesline) January 18, 2017