CARDINALS

U of L's Harrell ejected from WKU game

Jeff Greer
Louisville Courier Journal
Louisville's Montrezl Harrell, right, puts up a shot over the defense of Western Kentucky's George Fant during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014, in Bowling Green, Ky. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Star Louisville forward Montrezl Harrell was ejected from Saturday's game at Western Kentucky after committing a flagrant foul near the end of the first half.

Harrell, a preseason All-American and Louisville's leading scorer and rebounder, was involved in a midcourt, loose-ball scrum with several WKU players. As Harrell jumped up from the floor, the 6-foot-8 junior threw what appeared to be a high elbow above the shoulder of WKU's Avery Patterson.

After reviewing the play, officials determined that Harrell committed a flagrant 2 foul and immediately dismissed him. WKU's DJ Clayton was also assessed a flagrant 1 foul for his role in the loose-ball tie-up.

"It was a human situation," Harrell said after the game. "Everything took a turn for the worst, honestly. It's just bad that I overreacted in the heat of that moment."

GAME REPORT: Louisville outlasts WKU in testy matchup

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U of L spokesman Kenny Klein said after the game that Harrell would not automatically receive a one-game suspension for the incident.

The Cardinals play Cal State Northridge on Tuesday night at the KFC Yum! Center.

The initial dust-up fueled about 10 minutes of confusion at WKU's E.A. Diddle Arena, with fans booing as officials took time reviewing the play.

GAME REWIND: Louisville 76, Western Ketnucky 67

U of L coach Rick Pitino and WKU coach Ray Harper met at center court with the officials after they'd reviewed the play, and the two coaches appeared to yell at each other. They both received offsetting technical fouls.

Louisville assistant coach Kenny Johnson joked after the game that Pitino and Harper "were making Christmas plans" during their intense conversation.

"It was a heated basketball game," Johnson said. "A lot of chippy things (happened) early on."