Chapter 47: Collision and Consequence
Although Lian Dao successfully dunked the ball, he lost balance mid-air and fell hard to the floor. Thankfully, he managed to adjust in time to avoid hitting his head, landing instead on his backside. The impact left him feeling like his internal organs had been jolted.
The collision was caused by Alex Franklin, who had deliberately slammed into Lian Dao to cause the fall. After the collision, Franklin raised his hands innocently, infuriating DeMar, Gibson, and Vucevic.
Vucevic, closest to the incident, reacted first. He charged at Alex Franklin and landed a punch squarely on his chin. In an instant, Franklin was sprawled on the court with a tooth flying out. DeMar, eager to join in, was held back by a referee who rushed over. Vucevic's teammates quickly restrained him to prevent further escalation.
Meanwhile, Gibson clenched his fists, looking ready to confront Franklin. Seeing Gibson's intense expression and bald head, Franklin recoiled despite blood dripping from his mouth. Gibson's intimidating presence proved too much for Franklin to handle.
The coach hurried to hold Gibson back, fearing he might seriously harm Franklin. The opposing players, initially inclined to help Franklin, hesitated and stepped back upon seeing Gibson's menacing stance.
Alex Franklin's malicious foul stirred the crowd into a frenzy, with spectators loudly condemning him:
"Get out, you jerk!"
"The NCAA doesn't tolerate thugs!"
...
Tim swiftly called the team doctor to check on Lian Dao's injury. The doctor quickly assessed Lian Dao, asking about his pain and examining the affected areas.
Tim, visibly upset, yelled at the referees, "This is brutality, not basketball! I'll take this to the organizing committee!"
The referee, trying to calm Tim down, assured him, "We'll handle this fairly and appropriately!"
Lian Dao's quick reflexes had allowed him to stabilize and protect himself, minimizing the impact. The doctor confirmed there were no serious issues. Lian Dao's martial arts training had honed his balance and quick reactions, which had helped prevent a more severe injury.
If it had been another USC player in that situation, they might have suffered a concussion or ankle injury from the awkward fall.
With support from teammates and the doctor, Lian Dao returned to the bench. DeMar noticed Lian Dao's relaxed demeanor and sighed with relief. They knew each other well enough to understand that Lian Dao's calm demeanor meant the injury wasn't serious.
Watching Vucevic get ejected for his retaliation, Lian Dao felt grateful. Vucevic, usually calm and often teased as the "European big man," had shown a fiercely protective side in defending his teammate.
"The victory will belong to the University of Southern California. Take a breather!" Lian Dao told Vucevic, bumping shoulders as a sign of solidarity.
With Vucevic out, Lian Dao clenched his fists, feeling renewed determination. The referees reviewed the incident on the big screen, further enraging the crowd against Alex Franklin.
After deliberation, the referees deemed Franklin's actions a flagrant foul, resulting in his ejection from the game.
"Sickle, are you sure you don't need a more thorough check-up?" Tim asked, still concerned about Lian Dao's well-being and potential impact on his basketball career.
"Coach, I'm fine. The doctor checked me out, and I took precautions before the fall. Trust me, I'm okay," Lian Dao reassured him.
Reluctantly, Tim nodded. "Stay safe!"
As the timeout ended and players returned to the court, Tim gave final instructions. Due to Franklin's foul, Lian Dao was awarded a free throw, which he calmly converted to complete the 2+1 play.
The game resumed with USC playing with renewed vigor, determined to turn the incident into a rallying point.
Alex Franklin was ejected, and the Siena Saints brought in Owen Wignot to replace him. USC adjusted their lineup with Lian Dao moving to power forward, Gibson to center, and Dwight Lewis taking small forward. This small-ball lineup, originally planned for the second half, was implemented early due to Vucevic's ejection.
Both teams resumed play aggressively, with referees closely monitoring physical plays to maintain control and prevent further incidents.
However, another incident occurred. Edwin Ubiles of the Siena Saints lay motionless on the court after a fierce play. The referees halted the game, allowing medical staff to rush in. The situation unfolded as follows:
Lian Dao received the ball from outside and took three steps toward the basket for a layup. As he jumped for a dunk after his second step into the paint, Edwin Ubiles attempted to block him but realized he was outmatched in height and reach. In a desperate move, Ubiles elbowed Lian Dao's chest to slow him down.
Enraged by the dirty play, Lian Dao pushed through the pain with all his strength. Unable to withstand the force, Ubiles fell mid-air, colliding chest-first with Lian Dao's knee. There was a distinct crack as Ubiles felt a rib break. Undeterred, Lian Dao completed the dunk, sending Ubiles crashing to the floor. Ubiles hit the ground hard, his head striking the floor and rendering him unconscious.
Siena Saints players rushed to confront Lian Dao, who instinctively took a Xingyi martial arts stance. USC players quickly surrounded Lian Dao, ready to defend their teammate. Referees intervened just in time, separating both sides.
After the medical assessment, it was determined that Edwin Ubiles had suffered a moderate concussion and a broken rib, requiring one to two months of recovery. Coach Fran McCaffrey was distraught, having lost two key players in one game. He accused Lian Dao of seeking revenge deliberately, demanding Lian Dao's expulsion.
Tim defended Lian Dao, arguing that Ubiles' injuries were a result of his own foul play. Referees warned both coaches to end their arguments or face ejection themselves.
Replays confirmed Lian Dao's actions were clean and without foul play. It was clear Ubiles lost his balance and fell onto Lian Dao's knee before hitting the floor.
Upon seeing the replay, the audience directed their anger toward the Siena Saints. "They're here for basketball, not brawling! This is disgraceful!" a fan shouted.
Ultimately, referees ruled Ubiles' action as a technical foul. Given his injuries, he was effectively ejected from the game and taken to the hospital by ambulance.
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