As the Gophers’ Corky Taylor reached down to give Witte a hand up, Taylor kneed him in the groin. Ron Behagen then stomped on his head. Minnesota players and fans streamed onto the court to join the melee. Jim Brewer punched Lebanon’s Dave Merchant several times in the face and Dave Winfield came off the bench to attack the Buckeyes’ Mark Wager, punching him several times in the head.
When order was restored the game was declared an Ohio State victory.
Behagen, Taylor and Brewer received suspensions from the Big Ten. Luke Witte received 29 stitches in the face and a scarred cornea. He was never the same for the remainder of his college and ensuing pro basketball career.
Not only was Dave Winfield not suspended, but with several teammates benched, he moved into the starting lineup. Winfield later went on to a hall of fame baseball career, with the odor of that fateful night rarely mentioned if even remembered.
Cincinnati and Xavier handed out suspensions to several players involved in Saturday’s fight ranging from the six games for UC’s Yancy Gates to just one game for Xavier’s Tu Holloway.
And much like Winfield, as time goes on, the guilty Musketeers and Bearcats will be remembered for their points, assists and rebounds more than their “thuggery.”
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