VIDEO: Shorter Men’s basketball game called early after injury, fights

The unbeaten Shorter Hawks Men’s Basketball team played their 2016-17 home opener Thursday night, hosting Fort Valley State at the Winthrop-King Centre in a game that took a terrible turn during the second half of play.

The game was called with 9:02 to play in the second after Shorter’s Alijah Bennett was taken out by a Wildcats player on a fast break dunk, landing with the full weight of his body directly onto his head.

Wow….. pic.twitter.com/mngkCkxdT0

— Austen Trevers (@Austentrevers18) November 18, 2016

Bennett,  junior guard from Long Island, New York is a transfer from Kennesaw State, and had played in nearly 30 games for the Hawks before Thursday’s game.

According to Shorter Hawks announcer Kevin Karel, Bennett was removed from the arena on a stretcher, but was apparently moving his extremities.

Bennett left gym on a stretcher but was able to move all his extremities and speak. Appeared to land on his head. Prayers 🙏 to @ShorterHawks

— Kevin M. Karel (@KevinKarel21) November 18, 2016

A series of fights broke out after the play, resulting in officials calling the game at the 9:02 mark, and awarding the undefeated Hawks the victory. Shorter moves to 3-0 on the season with the win.

There has been no official update from Shorter University Athletics as to the condition of the injured Alijah Bennett. Check back for updates.