Fitchburg State basketball player suspended for Flagrant foul

In November 2018, Fitchburg State University basketball player Kewan Platt, a junior guard, was indefinitely suspended and barred from campus after committing a flagrant foul during a Division III game against Nichols College. Late in the game, with Fitchburg trailing, Platt deliberately elbowed Nichols player Nate Tenaglia in the face after Tenaglia made a three-pointer. Video evidence showed Platt glancing at the referee before the act, suggesting intent. Platt was ejected after receiving his second technical foul of the game.

The incident went viral, prompting swift action from Fitchburg State. The university condemned Platt’s behavior as “antithetical to our community values and good sportsmanship,” and his name was removed from the team’s roster. The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) also vacated Platt’s recent Player of the Week award. Platt later apologized on social media, admitting he “got frustrated and lost control,” but the university continued to review the case for further sanctions, with campus police investigating.

Tenaglia, the targeted player, was able to finish the game after being evaluated for a concussion and showed no visible injuries, earning praise for his composure. Nichols College won the game 84-75.