UCLA’s Mac Etienne Arrested After Appearing to Spit at Arizona Fans

UCLA forward Mac Etienne was arrested after appearing to spit at Arizona fans as he left the arena.

No. 7 Arizona took down No. 3 UCLA at home Thursday to notch a huge win over its rival, but the story of the night is now what appears to have happened after the game ended.

UCLA forward Mac Etienne, a redshirt freshman who is out for the season with a knee injury, was shown on camera appearing to spit toward Wildcats fans as his team left the arena. According to ESPN, Etienne was later arrested and issued a citation for assault in the aftermath.

Etienne returned to the locker room with his team before University of Arizona police officers told him he would be placed under arrest and issued a citation for assault with “the intent to injure, provoke or insult another person,” ESPN reported.

Video of the incident, captured by multiple fans, went viral on social media Thursday night.

UCLA issued an official statement on the matter, saying it's under review by the university.

UCLA statement on spitting incident: "UCLA Athletics is committed to and expects the highest level of sportsmanship. We are aware of the incident involving a student-athlete at tonight's men's basketball game, and the matter is under review."
--Scott Markley, UCLA spokesman

— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) February 4, 2022

Arizona's win moves the Wildcats to 8–1 in the Pac-12 with an overall mark of 18–2. UCLA falls to 8–2 in the league with a 16–3 overall record. The two teams are not scheduled to play against each other again this season, unless they meet in the Pac-12 tournament—or later in the NCAA tournament.