Dec 15, 2021; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Bruins forward Mac Etienne (left) and guard Jaylen Clark (right) look on after the game against the Alabama State Hornets was cancelled due to COVID-19 protocols at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
The aftermath of No. 3 UCLA’s loss to No. 7 Arizona on Thursday in Tucson, Ariz., took an ugly turn that led to the arrest of a Bruins player.
Redshirt freshman forward Mac Etienne appeared to spit in the direction of Arizona fans as the Bruins were walking off the court following their 76-66 defeat, and he was subsequently arrested and cited for assault by University of Arizona police.
Etienne, who was not in uniform, has been sidelined all season because of a knee injury.
University Police Sgt. Sean Shields told ESPN, “We allowed him to go with the team back to the locker room, and he was arrested for assault.”
Etienne will face a court date, but he potentially could resolve the citation without needing to travel back to Arizona, Shields told ESPN.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Etienne later was allowed to leave Tucson with the Bruins as they headed northwest for a game at Arizona State on Saturday.
The UCLA athletic department issued a statement that read, “UCLA Athletics is committed to and expects the highest level of sportsmanship. We are aware of the incident involving a student-athlete at tonight’s men’s basketball game, and the matter is under review.”
Etienne appeared in 13 games last season for the Bruins, who reached the Final Four, but he still has four years of eligibility remaining. He averaged 2.6 points and 2.8 rebounds in 2020-21, but he sustained a knee injury in October that still has him sidelined.
–Field Level Media