Tempers reached the boiling point in Guilford Monday night when a brief scuffle ensued at the end of the third quarter. Hand starter guard Ryan Paternoster was ejected, along with Guilford reserve guard Jake Battipaglia. Both must sit out their games on Friday because an ejection serves as an automatic one-game suspension.

Play got increasingly chippy as the game wore on. Hand was clearly the better team, and took advantage of the undermanned Indians. Hand is more than willing to butt heads with any team in the Southern Connecticut Conference, including Hillhouse. And clearly, the Guilford players got frustrated with being drummed in their own gym.

To the credit of school officials and police, order was quickly restored and spectators from the student section were kept from joining the fray at center court. Even coaches Jim Reynolds (Guilford) and Frank Rossi (Hand) got into a verbal exchange, each defending their own team.

The fourth quarter went on without further incident. Although these two teams are done playing for this season, it may be wise to schedule three referees on this game in at least the near future, like is done for certain games in the league.