Chris Gay/The Augusta Chronicle

The scene was what you expected when a ranked basketball team goes on the road and loses. Home fans stormed the fans in jubilation. The opposing coaches and players walked off the court unharmed.

This was the scene at Valdosta State earlier this month, when the Blazers upset then-No. 1 Augusta State. But not every post-game celebration goes as smoothly, as we witnessed Monday night. Check out the photos by photographer Michael Holahan below.

After USC Aiken's greatest victory of the season, a three-point win over rival Augusta State, the convocation center switched from exultation to mob scene in a split second. Instead of savoring the monumental upset over the nation's sixth-ranked team, USC Aiken's coaches and players were busy trying to clean up that mess.

While it is ultimately the fans' fault for rushing the floor, where was the security to help prevent this from happening?

Billy Byler and I saw one security guard at the game, and he helped escort the referees to the locker room.

There was no security personnel -- none -- on the floor when Pacers fans stormed out of their seats. This makes NO sense at all. This is USC Aiken's BIGGEST home game of the year. This game featured two rivals. More than 3,000 fans attended. And there was a lively atmosphere. How do you not game plan for that?

USC Aiken (the school, not the team) should consider itself lucky, because:

1) Augusta State players Ben Madgen and Greg Hire were lying on the floor when fans rushed the court. If they would have suffered any season-ending injuries (or even broken a nose, etc.), there could have been a major lawsuit.

2) A USC Aiken player could have suffered an injury as well. Guard Mark Brown was involved trying to break this mess up, and he emerged with a few red marks.

In the picture below, USC Aiken assistant coach Nate Davis is protecting Brown.
 

Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed. The melee lasted but a few minutes, a few scary minutes. Give credit to people like USC Aiken SID Brian Hand, who hopped the table and ran onto the court to push people apart. Same thing for USC Aiken coach Vince Alexander and his coaches and players. And for the Augusta State team.

Below, Alexander is to the left of Augusta State center Alex Smith (No. 4) with Brown (No. 5) on the right. All three are trying to restore order.

When these two teams meet again next Wednesday in Augusta, Augusta State will have to -- and I mean HAVE TO -- beef up security. Christenberry Fieldhouse will be packed. And the Jaguars will be looking for revenge on the court. ASU will need to ensure that:

1) USC Aiken's coaches and players are protected. They shouldn't have to fear for their safety.

2) There's no mad rush to the floor if ASU wins. Simple as it sounds, there are ways to celebrate without fighting and running over people.

How much security could have done to prevent this Monday night, we'll never know. All we can do is plan for the future.

Yes, this is a heated rivalry -- and it always will be. Still, whether security is there or now, fans need to show some civility. This isn't European soccer. Not yet.