Watch: Fan brawl delays VCU-Saint Louis college basketball game

Jan. 29 (UPI) -- A vicious fan brawl caused a delay for about seven minutes toward the end of a college basketball matchup between VCU and Saint Louis, requiring police officers and security to intervene.

The melee occurred with about 1:10 remaining in Saint Louis' 78-69 triumph Tuesday at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis. Several fans were escorted out of the arena due to their involvement in the fight.

The Saint Louis Billikens led the VCU Rams 69-63 at the time of the stoppage, which was triggered by a fight just behind the VCU bench. Two men grabbed each other at one point and fell over a row of seats, while others in the area also exchanged words and shoves. School officials, security and police immediately went into the area to break up the violence, which led to one man bleeding from his face.

Players from both teams stared into the area until the situation was resolved and play resumed.

Redshirt senior Gibson Jimerson scored a game-high 26 points for the Billikens. The 6-foot-5 guard, who made 8 of 16 shots, also recorded five rebounds. Senior guard Kobe Johnson chipped in 19 points and six rebounds in the victory.

Guards Phillip Russell and Zeb Jackson, both graduate seniors, scored 15 points apiece for the Rams, who had a six-game winning streak snapped by the Billikens.

The Billikens (13-8) will take on the Dayton Flyers (14-7) at 6 p.m. EST Friday at Chaifetz Arena. The Rams (16-5) will face the Richmond Spiders (7-13) at 4 p.m. Saturday in Richmond, Va.