BELLEVUE — A physical confrontation near the end of Peninsula College men’s basketball team’s 80-69 loss to Bellevue College last Saturday has ended the season of two players.
Although both schools have been tight-lipped about the incident, the Peninsula Daily News has learned that a punch from Peninsula forward Arnold Anderson broke the jaw of Bellevue guard Marcus Tibbs.
The injury will force Tibbs, the Bulldogs’ leading scorer, to miss the remainder of the season.
Detective Bob Thompson, who is investigating the incident for the Bellevue Police Department, told the PDN that he viewed film of the game for the first time on Thursday afternoon.
Thompson said that the confrontation happened after Anderson fouled out of the game with five personal fouls.
Tibbs clapped, apparently because Anderson had fouled out. Anderson responded by swinging his elbow toward Tibbs’ face, and was given a technical foul.
Another Peninsula teammate tried to lead Anderson off the floor in an effort to calm the situation, but as Tibbs walked toward midcourt, Anderson turned and punched him in the face.
Peninsula athletic director Rick Ross told the PDN he was unable to comment because Peninsula College is investigating the matter in conjunction with the school’s student conduct code, but he did issue the following statement: “We deeply regret the incident that occurred near the end of the men’s basketball game at Bellevue [on] Saturday night. The player involved was permanently dismissed from our team.”
Ross later confirmed that Anderson was the Peninsula player who was dismissed.
Bellevue athletic director Bill O’Connor told the PDN he is unable to comment at this time because the incident is under investigation by the Bellevue Police Department.
O’Connor did confirm that Tibbs is out for the rest of the season with a broken jaw.
The Pirates will play their first game without Anderson, who coach Lance Von Vogt referred to as a defensive specialist in an interview with the PDN early last month, Saturday at Whatcom in Bellingham.
Peninsula and Whatcom are tied for second place in the NWAACC North Division standings at 5-2 each.
