College basketball star suspended by team for spitting on opposing fan

Stony Brook men’s basketball star Erik Pratt was suspended by the school for spitting on a fan during the team’s 82-69 loss to Monmouth on Thursday.

Pratt was being heckled by fans with 2:30 left in the game with Stony Brook trailing 79-63. Instead of ignoring the fans, Pratt turned around, spit at them, and walked away.

“In light of his actions in last night’s game at Monmouth, I made the decision, in consultation with the CAA, to suspend Erik Pratt for Saturday’s game at Hofstra,” Stony Brook athletic director Shawn Heilbron said in a statement.

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UW-Milwaukee guard Erik Pratt, now playing for Stony Brook, looks to drive to the basket against Northern Kentucky in the second half of a game at UWM Panther Arena in Milwaukee on Feb. 17, 2024. (Dave Kallmann/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/USA Today Network)

“I met with Erik earlier and he acknowledged his mistake and accepted full responsibility for his actions. While emotions were high at the time, he understands that his behavior was inappropriate and did not meet the standards we expect of our student-athletes or those set by our department, institution and the CAA. Erik has expressed his commitment to learning from this experience and moving forward in a positive manner.”

At the time of his ejection, Pratt led the team with 14 points and eight assists. Pratt is Stony Brook’s leading scorer, averaging 19.4 points per game, and his absence for the team’s game against Hofstra on Saturday is significant.

Milwaukee Panthers guard Erik Pratt, now playing for Stony Brook, dribbles during the Horizon League championship game against the Oakland Golden Grizzlies at Indiana Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis on March 12, 2024. (Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Stony Brook is tied for No. 5 in the CAA tournament, and a loss to Hofstra could drop them into the seeding spots.

Pratt played at Milwaukee and Texas A&M before joining Stony Brook.

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Texas A&M Aggies guard Erik Pratt, now playing for Stony Brook, leads a fast break against the Georgia Bulldogs at Reed Arena in College Station, Texas, on February 4, 2023. (Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Pratt isn’t the only athlete who has been embroiled in a spitting controversy over the past year. Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Carter spit on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in the first game of the 2025 NFL season.

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