Referee Collapses During Elite Eight Showdown

The NCAA men’s basketball tournament took a scary turn after one of the referees working the Elite Eight matchup between Gonzaga and USC collapsed.

NCAA official Bert Smith fell near the Gonzaga bench. Yahoo Sports reported that Gonzaga’s coach Tommy Lloyd saw Smith fall and ran toward him. 

A scary scene in Indy. Official Bert Smith, in his 2nd Elite 8, has just collapsed on the court. Medical personnel on scene bringing out the stretcher. Hope he’s ok pic.twitter.com/oggWUIMizJ

— Anthony Bellino March 30, 2021

Gonzaga’s bench waived for doctors and Smith was immediately swarmed by medical professionals. Smith was loaded onto a stretcher and wheeled off the court to cheers from the crowd.

Smith was replaced on the court by alternate official Tony Henderson.

The NCAA would later announce that Smith was “alert and stable” and would not be transported to a hospital. Smith was apparently light-headed before he collapsed.