Oregon State’s 97-89 overtime victory over No. 16 Gonzaga took on an additional cost on Friday when the West Coast Conference fined OSU $5,000 after fans, mostly students, stormed the court following the game. This is the fine for a first-time offense under the conference’s new policy.
Conference fines are directed to the SoCal Fire Fund to support relief efforts for the recent wildfires in Southern California.
The WCC introduced its court storming policy in 2023, which requires schools to ensure that the visiting team, coaches, officials, and administrative staff have the opportunity to safely exit the playing surface before fans rush the court. If a school commits a second offense in the same season, the fine increases to $25,000, and a third offense would result in a $50,000 fine.
“While we appreciate the passion and support of our programs, we have protocols in place that prohibit fans from accessing the court prior to the teams and officials exiting the floor to ensure the safety of all those involved with the game,” said WCC commissioner Stu Jackson in a statement.
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