The brother of Louisiana State women’s basketball star Flau’jae Johnson was arrested Sunday for intervening during the fourth-quarter fight between South Carolina and LSU during the Southeastern Conference tournament championship game.
Trayron Milton, 24, was charged with third-degree assault and battery and disorderly conduct, according to jail records, for hopping the scorer’s table from the front row of the stands and entering the court after his sister was shoved to the court by South Carolina forward Kamilla Cardoso. Milton briefly made contact with Cardoso and pushed a SEC employee, police said, and an officer promptly escorted him off the court.
Two other individuals tried to enter the court but were apprehended, police said.
The ESPN broadcast identified Milton as the brother of Johnson, the 2023 SEC Freshman of the Year for the defending national champions.
With 2:08 left in the fourth quarter and the Gamecocks leading 73-66, Johnson attempted to stop South Carolina’s MiLaysia Fulwiley from going on a fast break. Cardoso ran to the scene pushed Johnson to the ground in retaliation. A larger scuffle ensued and multiple players from both sides were ejected as the teams finished the title game with depleted benches. Cardoso will miss the first round of the NCAA tournament for fighting.
After the game, South Carolina coach Dawn Staley apologized for her team’s part in fight, and LSU coach Kim Mulkey called the incident “ugly” and added that she wished Cardoso “would’ve pushed Angel Reese” instead of the smaller Johnson.
Contributing: Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Flau’jae Johnson’s brother charged after LSU-South Carolina near-brawl
