INDIANAPOLIS — A referee collapsed early within the first half of Tuesday evening’s Elite Eight matchup between Gonzaga and USC.
Official Bert Smith was alert as he was positioned on a stretcher and moved off the court docket at Lucas Oil Stadium. The NCAA mentioned he left the sport with a medical difficulty. On the TBS broadcast, guidelines analyst Gene Steratore mentioned Smith was feeling lightheaded and was being tended to within the locker room.
Smith is not going to be transported to a hospital, in accordance with the NCAA.
Smith was standing on the baseline in entrance of the Gonzaga bench because the Trojans had been transferring onto offense when he collapsed and hit his head on the ground.
Medical professionals surrounded Smith on the court docket as gamers, coaches and staffers moved towards their respective benches. Bulldogs gamers had been instructed to look away whereas Smith was on the bottom.
Smith stayed on the ground for about 5 minutes earlier than standing up and transferring to a close-by stretcher. The sport resumed with standby referee Tony Henderson changing Smith.
Gonzaga received 85-66 to advance to the Last 4.
