A referee exited a Big Ten game Wednesday night and was taken to the hospital as a precaution after being struck in the head by a celebrating player.
Illinois center Kofi Cockburn made a pivotal basket late in the second half against Michigan and also drew a foul. As he celebrated the play, the seven-footer accidentally struck ref Lewis Garrison square in the back of the head with his right arm.
Illinois’ Kofi Cockburn accidentally elbows Referee Lewis Garrison. Ouch.
— CollegeBB News (@CollegeBBNCAA) December 12, 2019
pic.twitter.com/qEWBxlT2YC
According to the Associated Press, Garrison was knocked unconscious. He grabbed his head and struggled to maintain his balance, with an apologetic Cockburn and a teammate supporting him. Garrison left the game and was cleared by doctors on site before being taken to a nearby hospital for a precautionary X-ray, Illinois spokesman Derrick Brunson said.
“I’m a really emotional guy,” Cockburn said. “We’ve lost the last couple of close games and that just me being passionate, I hit him and I feel bad. I went and told him after the game that I was sorry. He didn’t seem mad at me.”
The other two referees finished out the game as Illinois defeated the No. 7 Wolverines 71-62. Cockburn finished with 19 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks.
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