6 Ejected in Brawl as West Virginia Upset USA Coach’s Duke — Chaos Erupts in Stunning Finish

What was expected to be a routine early-season matchup between West Virginia and Duke turned into one of the most chaotic and unforgettable nights in recent college basketball memory. Six players were ejected following a heated on-court brawl, and West Virginia stunned the nation by defeating the heavily favored Duke team, coached by the newly appointed USA Basketball head coach.

The drama began midway through the second half, with Duke clinging to a narrow lead and the hometown crowd roaring at every possession. Tensions had been simmering for several minutes as both teams exchanged increasingly physical plays. A hard foul near the rim — a strong contest on what appeared to be a routine drive — ignited the spark. West Virginia’s guard fell to the floor after the contact, and players from both sides instantly converged.

What started as a verbal exchange escalated quickly. Shoves turned into a full scuffle, with players leaving the bench area and staff members desperately trying to intervene. Officials attempted to separate the teams, but the crowd’s eruption only added to the confusion. In the end, security personnel had to step onto the court as the melee intensified.

After nearly ten minutes of reviewing footage, the officiating crew announced the stunning decision: six total ejections, three from each team. The atmosphere inside the arena shifted from shock to disbelief as star players from both sides were escorted to the locker rooms. Duke’s coach, already under enormous national scrutiny due to his new role with USA Basketball, appeared visibly frustrated as he attempted to calm the remainder of his roster.

The ejections seemed to energize West Virginia. Despite being shorthanded, the Mountaineers came out of the delay with renewed intensity. They capitalized on Duke’s suddenly thin rotation, attacking mismatches and pushing the pace. Their defensive pressure forced several turnovers, and with five minutes left, West Virginia grabbed its first lead since the opening minutes.

The crowd sensed an upset brewing.

In the final stretch, Duke attempted to rally behind their young core, but West Virginia’s momentum was unstoppable. A deep three-pointer followed by a fast-break dunk sent the arena into chaos once again — but this time, it was celebratory. Duke’s coach slammed his clipboard in frustration as West Virginia extended the lead to nine with just under a minute remaining.

When the final buzzer sounded, the scoreboard told the story: West Virginia 82, Duke 75 — a massive upset that will be talked about for years.

After the game, coaches from both teams addressed the incident. Duke’s head coach called the brawl “deeply disappointing” and announced that internal discipline would follow. West Virginia’s coach praised his team’s composure but emphasized that “violence has no place in the sport.”

Fans, analysts, and former players took to social media instantly, calling the game one of the wildest college basketball moments of the decade. Some blamed officiating for losing control early; others argued the competitive intensity between the programs made this eruption inevitable.

One thing is certain: this matchup will be remembered not only for the massive upset, but for the chaos that erupted under the national spotlight.