UA Little Rock fined for actions in men’s basketball home game

UA Little Rock was fined $15,000 by the Sun Belt Conference on Feb. 17 for conduct violations involving their Feb. 8 90-87 men’s basketball home win against the Arkansas State Red Wolves.

The day before the Sun Belt rivalry matchup, Little Rock (LR) practiced on the main court of the Jack Stephens Center and didn’t offer the same opportunity to the Red Wolves. In a letter from Sun Belt Conference commissioner Keith Gill to LR athletics director George Lee, the commissioner stated the school’s actions were a violation of standard 10.5.1 of the Sun Belt Conference Standards of Conduct.

Further, LR self-reported a moment after the game in which head men’s basketball coach Darrell Walker reportedly made unsportsmanlike comments to the Arkansas State athletic director. In the same letter, Gill stated those comments were in violation of standard 10.5.2 of the Standards of Conduct.

“In retrospect, the aforementioned comments seem to indicate there was some malice in the decision by the Little Rock coaches to practice on the main floor although Arkansas State’s team was not afforded the same practice opportunity,” Gill stated in the letter.

The $15,000 fine was appealable, but according to KATV, the school accepted the fine and will work to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

In KATV’s report, they described a text conversation between UA Little Rock Chancellor Christina Drale and Lee. In the exchange, released under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act to KATV, Drale told Lee that “Darrell-detractors” were attempting to publicize the violation for their own “agendas.”

LR Athletics hasn’t responded to a request for comment.