Missouri fined $250,000 for storming court after men's basketball win vs. Kansas

The SEC has fined Missouri $250,000 for its fans storming the court after the Tigers’ 76-67 upset victory over No. 1 Kansas on Sunday. This is Missouri’s second offense under the league’s revised access to competition area policy that was adopted at the SEC Spring Meetings in 2023.

Schools are fined $100,00 for their first offense, $250,000 for their second and $500,000 for any further violations. Missouri committed its first offense when its fans stormed the field after the Tigers’ football team defeated Kansas State on September 16, 2023.

When teams violate the conference’s policies against non-conference opponents, their fines go toward the SEC Post-Graduate Scholarship Fund. When teams commit policy offenses against fellow conference members, their fines go to the opposing team.

The policy states that “institutions shall limit access to competition areas to participating student-athletes, coaches, officials, support personnel and properly credentialed or authorized individuals at all times. For the safety of participants and spectators alike, at no time before, during or after a contest may spectators enter the competition area.”

It’s safe to assume that Missouri won’t lose any sleep over the $250,000. Only nine months after finishing last in the SEC, Missouri took down the top team in the land. After the win, Missouri head coach Dennis Gates reflected on the moment the fans rushed the court.

“I walked all around the court, and I ended up near the drums by [band director] Dr. Knopps, and I just stood there because I wanted a different view,” Gates said. “I didn’t want to be down. I wanted to get a little bit higher, and it was beautiful to see. And like Tamar mentioned, is very important, and that’s why I give credit to our fans, so they can understand behind the scenes, their level of involvement is impactful. It’s very impactful at the games, the sacrifices that they make to show up is important.

“Outside of that, you guys write more about us if our fans are engaged in your writings, in your subscriptions in your job, and that will give them more of a hands-on approach to it being not though, as the Whitten Family Head Men’s Basketball Coach, but it’s their program. It’s their program. It is our fan’s program, and if the ownership is there on their behalf, which it has been. It was beautiful today.”