Referee Rick Crawford Knocked On Opening Tip of Vanderbilt vs La Salle

Tonight's Vanderbilt-La Salle game in Brooklyn faced a lengthy delay just after the opening tip when referee Rick Crawford took an elbow to the head and immediately collapsed onto the floor.A Barclays Center spokesperson said Crawford was being taken to Brooklyn Hospital, and could move his fingers.Crawford threw the ball up for the opening tipoff and as Dack came down, it appeared as if his arm struck the 19-year official flush on the face.He had bruising over his right eye, and his neck was in a brace.Crawford immediately fell to the court, and was tended to by trainers and medical professionals for roughly 10 minutes before being stretchered off the court.Crawford immediately fell to the court, and was tended to by trainers and medical professionals for roughly 10 minutes before being stretchered off the court. Prior to the start of the second half, the spokesperson said Crawford’s vitals were “fine,” and added the official was “talking, remembers what happened” and planned to return to the arena.