A wild postgame brawl following a contentious game between Utah Valley and New Mexico State highlighted the risks when fans and players collide. Colin Kaepernick 49ers Jersey . The Western Athletic Conference suspended New Mexico State junior guard K.C. Ross-Miller for two games and senior forward Renaldo Dixon for one for violating the leagues sportsmanship policy following its review of the melee Thursday night in Orem, Utah. Ross-Miller hurled the ball at Utah Valleys Holton Hunsaker seconds after the Wolverines 66-61 victory over the Aggies. The ball hit Hunsaker -- the son of Utah Valley coach Dick Hunsaker -- in the leg. Some of the fans who stormed the court following the victory got caught up in the chaos and punches were thrown. New Mexico State guard DK Eldridge was in the middle of the scrum before he was dragged away by Aggies coaches as order was restored. With the victory, the Wolverines claimed the top spot in the conference standings -- their first year in the WAC. While the brawl was touched off by Ross-Millers actions, it sparked renewed debate about player and fan interactions, and the dangers posed when fans rush the court. It was one of several incidents involving fans and players or coaches in recent months. Oklahoma State All-America guard Marcus Smart charged into the stands at Texas Tech on Feb. 8 and shoved a fan who called him a "piece of crap." Smart was suspended for three games and the fan later apologized. Also in February, Oregon coach Dana Altman expressed concerns about safety after two of his staffers said an Arizona State student spit at them at halftime of a game in Tempe, Ariz. Ducks guard Jason Calliste had a verbal confrontation with at least one student late in the first half. The NCAA does not have national rules regarding fans rushing the court because conference offices oversee regular season rules in basketball, including discipline. The SEC does ban the practice, imposing a $5,000 fine on the school for the first offence, and as much as $50,000 for subsequent infractions. Reggie Minton, deputy executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches, said his organization has discussed the issue in the past and it will be taken up again at meetings in April. "The main concern is for the safety of the visiting players and coaching staff. Rushing the court almost always comes after a key victory or upset by the home team and there are people rushing the court who may or may not understand what sportsmanship is about," Minton said. "We need to explore ways to eliminate the risk to the players, coaches and staff on the court," he added. "Every school should have a plan in place for end of game situations and make sure there is sufficient security and staff available to take control." The WAC issued its suspensions Friday after reviewing the brawl. "There obviously is no place in the Western Athletic Conference or intercollegiate athletics as a whole for the unfortunate events that took place at the conclusion of Thursday nights game," WAC Commissioner Jeff Hurd said. Hurd also said in a statement that there would be further review of the safety issues involved, and he has additional games management information from Utah Valley. Hurd praised the coaches for both teams. "The situation could have been much worse if it had not been for outstanding effort of both the New Mexico State and Utah Valley coaching staffs," Hurd said. "They were instrumental in separating their student-athletes from what could have been an even uglier situation." Before the WAC weighed in on additional penalties, New Mexico State coach Marvin Menzies suspended Ross-Miller indefinitely pending the WACs decision. The junior starter averages 8.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists. "No matter what provoked K.C. what he did was inexcusable and hence the suspension. It is an honour and a privilege to wear an Aggie uniform and a responsibility comes with that privilege," Menzies said in a statement Friday. The game between the WAC co-leaders at the UCCU centre was attended by a season-high 4,954 fans. Ross-Miller issued a statement apologizing for his actions. "I have way more respect for the university, my teammates and coaches to retaliate in such a terrible way," he said. "I know better to let my opponents and emotions get the best of me and I regret doing what I did, not only because it was stupid and selfish, but because of the situation that I have created for my team, coaches and the university. The Wolverines issued a brief statement via Twitter: "The incident following Thursdays game was an unfortunate and sour endnote to an otherwise brilliant performance by both teams." The team referred all further inquiries to the WAC. Utah Valley (17-10, 11-3) is atop the WAC standings going into Saturdays home game against Texas Pan-American. New Mexico State (21-9, 10-4) visits Bakersfield on Saturday. Chris Culliver Jersey .J. -- If people were looking for Richard Sherman to get the weeklong hype for the Super Bowl started with another rant, the Seattle cornerback disappointed them. Jerry Rice Authentic Jersey . The International Ice Hockey Federation says Russia is looking for a new coach before the world championship in May in Belarus. The IIHF says Russian hockey federation officials agreed to Bilyaletdinovs departure after meeting with him on Wednesday.PORTLAND, Ore. -- LaMarcus Aldridge had a career-high 44 points and 13 rebounds, and the Portland Trail Blazers rallied for a 110-105 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Thursday night. Wesley Matthews added 24 points for the Blazers (32-11), who snapped a two-game losing streak coming off a 2-2 road trip. The Blazers have not lost three straight this season. Wilson Chandler had 18 points for Denver (20-21), which has lost four of their last five games after a five-game winning streak. The Blazers trailed by as many as 15 points in the third quarter, but chipped away at Denvers lead to pull to 91-90 on Wesley Matthews turnaround fadeaway before taking the lead on his 15-foot jumper. The teams wrestled for control, but Aldridges jumper put Portland up a 102-99 with 3:08 left. Chandler and Timofey Mozgov made consecutive baskets to regain the lead for Denver, and it was back-and-forth until Aldridge made four consecutive free throws to shouts of "M-V-P," from the Portland crowd, giving the Blazers a 108-105 lead. Chandler missed a jumper with 8 seconds left and Aldridge made more free throws for the final margin. The two-time All-Star, who came in a disappointing fifth among Western Conference frontcourt players in All-Star voting, made eight straight free throws to close the game. Blazers owner Paul Allen addressed the media at halftime, talking on a wide range of topics including a contract extension for Aldridge, which the team will consider "at the appropriate time.&quuot; Kenneth Faried got two quick fouls early in the game and had to sit, but the Nuggets still led 30-28 at the end of the first quarter, paced by Anthony Randolph off the bench. Ahmad Brooks 49ers Jersey. Nate Robinsons 3-pointer stretched Denvers lead to 44-37, and the Nuggets went on to lead by as many as 12 points in the second quarter. Portland went on a 9-0 run to close to 51-48, but Denver held on to 67-59 lead at the half. Randy Foye hit a 3-pointer early in the third quarter to stretch Denvers lead to 78-63. The Nuggets led 91-86 heading to the fourth. Earlier in the day, Aldridge and teammate Damian Lillard were named to the 2014-16 U.S. mens national team pool, the first step toward making the Olympic team. Faried was also invited. The All-Star team starters were also announced before Thursday nights game. Aldridge finished fifth in fan voting among Western Conference frontcourt Blazers, while Lillard finished seventh among guards. Both players will have a chance to make the team if they are selected by the leagues coaches. NOTES: The Blazers defeated the Nuggets 113-98 in Denver their first meeting of the season on Nov. 1. ... Portland is the only team to have used the same starting lineup all season. ... The Nuggets announced earlier this week that forward Danilo Gallinari will miss the rest of the season after undergoing a second surgery on his left knee. Gallinari averaged 16.2 points per game last season for Denver. ... Actor Billy Dee Williams was at the game. ' ' '
