In the closing seconds of Oklahoma State’s 65-61 loss to Texas Tech, an attempted block sent Smart into the stands, where he had words with a fan who was later identified as Jeff Orr, and was caught on video shoving Orr with both hands:
Smart told his coaches that the fan had provoked him with the use of a racial slur, but apologized at a press conference on Sunday. Orr also issued an apology, but would only cop to calling Smart a “piece of crap”:
“I would like to take this opportunity to offer my sincere apologies to Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State, Tubby Smith and the Texas Tech Men&
The Big 12 Conference announced, on Sunday, that Smart will be suspended for three games over the incident:
“Mr. Smart’s actions were a clear violation of the Big 12 Conference’s Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct Policy,” Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a statement. “Such behavior has no place in athletics, and will not be tolerated. I appreciate the efforts of Oklahoma State University athletics director Mike Holder in addressing this matter, and believe this is an appropriate response to an inappropriate action.”