College Basketball Player Dies After Sustaining Injury During Game

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A college basketball player in Oklahoma died after sustaining an injury during a game.

Ethan Dietz, a sophomore at Connors State College, was injured during the second half of his team’s game on Saturday against Grayson College.

School officials announced on Tuesday that he had passed away.

“Ethan exemplified what it means to be a Cowboy, to value hard work and being part of a team,” a statement from the school read, according to ESPN.

“While the team and the Cowboy community are processing our own grief, our hearts go out to his family and friends,” it continued.

ESPN has more:

Messages seeking comment were left Wednesday with the college’s athletic director and men’s basketball coach.

Several of the college’s men’s and women’s basketball games were canceled following Dietz’s death. A vigil in his honor is scheduled for Monday at the college’s campus in Warner, Oklahoma.

Dietz was averaging 11 points through eight games this season.

The 20-year-old reportedly suffered a head injury during the game.

CBS Sports shared:

Dietz, a sophomore from Conway, Arkansas, played 20 minutes in Saturday’s game prior to his injury and scored six points and had four rebounds. The 6-foot-8 forward was a starter for the Cowboys who averaged 11 points and 9.4 rebounds per game on the season. Dietz also started 29 of the Cowboys’ 36 games last year as a freshman.

“Ethan Dietz was the kind of player a coach always hopes for,” Connors State coach and athletic director Bill Muse said. “He was talented athletically and academically and he understood the importance of hard work. If you ever saw him smile, you knew he was all heart. He was a person of character as well as a great teammate. Our hearts and prayers continue to be with Ethan’s family, friends and our team as we process this heartbreaking loss.”

Connors State canceled its upcoming games against Southern Arkansas University Tech on Wednesday, Nov. 26, and against Grayson College on Monday, Dec. 1, in the wake of the tragedy. The women’s basketball team also canceled its next two games.

“It is devastating when such a bright light is taken from us,” Connors State president Dr. Ron Ramming said. “Ethan exemplified what it means to be a Cowboy, to value hard work and being part of a team. While we are processing our own grief, our hearts go out to his family, friends and teammates.”



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