Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall ejected after referee confrontation
— -- An exhibition game between Wichita State and McGill University on Tuesday in Montreal took a turn for the unexpected when Shockers men's basketball coach Gregg Marshall began shouting and charging toward two referees.
According to the Wichita Eagle, the confrontation began after Marshall earned a second technical foul and was ejected in the Shockers' 77-71 win.
A cellphone video showed Marshall being restrained by Wichita State players and coaching staff as he repeatedly tried to confront the referees.
"There were players with stitches, concussions, not keeping score accurately, a bloodbath, then touch fouls on us," Marshall told ESPN's Andy Katz on Wednesday. "I'm not happy nor proud of the reaction but when is enough, enough? I want my players to know I've got their back. Once ejected, I wanted the ref to know exactly my impression of his work."
The video showed Marshall yelling and pointing his finger, and at one point, he marched right up to the face of one of the officials.
"Once I reacted, I said, 'I might as well get my money's worth.'" Marshall told the Wichita Eagle.
Marshall eventually was escorted off the court by Wichita State staff amid a smattering of boos from the small crowd.
"Once Coach got kicked out, we all got in a huddle and said, 'We need this for Coach,'" forward Darral Willis said.
Fueled by Marshall's dramatics, the Shockers closed the game on a 21-11 run and improved to 2-1 on their four-game exhibition tour.
"I appreciate them having my back," Marshall said.
Asked if he went too far, Marshall told the Wichita Eagle, "Perhaps. I wasn't going to do anything physical, but I wanted to make sure they understood what I felt was happening was incorrect and wrong."
Related Stories
ABC News Live