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UCLA

Adem Bona addresses being hit by low blow, seeing player suspended

On3 imageby:Andrew Graham•02/08/23•

AndrewEdGraham

Colorado v UCLA
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

UCLA freshman forward Adem Bona didn’t originally know that the Washington guard who delivered a crotch shot on Feb. 4 got suspended. He ultimately found out from a teammate that Cole Bajema, the Washington player in question, was suspended for one game.

Bona was pretty mum on the issue when speaking to reporters recently. He did, however, take the high road when asked about the low blow — and in the moment.

“I knew there was so much at stake, if I react wrongly,” Bona said. “And I would love to continue playing the game. I wouldn’t want to be on the bench if anything happens. I knew there was so much at stake so I just stayed locked in and continued to play.”

Fortunately — well, only a little bit — for Bona, he probably couldn’t have reacted right away as he was doubled over in pain.

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And while the replay looks pretty evident now, that’s after being primed to see the strike from Bajema to Bona. In the moment, and at the replay monitor on Feb. 4, the officials didn’t tack on any additional calls or toss Bajema. It quite easily could’ve — and arguably should’ve — been called a technical foul in the moment and potentially gotten Bajema tossed from the game for his actions.

Speaking with reporters, Bona acknowledged you can’t expect the refs to see it all and focusing on it doesn’t change anything. Plus, they’re not going to change their call midstream because someone complained.

“I really didn’t know he got suspended. I found out like a couple days later. My teammate told me,” Bona said. “And I think it was in the game and probably the refs didn’t have a proper view, or proper vision of what happened. We can’t change the refs call in the game.”