Oklahoma Sooner’s men’s basketball game against the Georgia Bulldogs was delayed a few minutes Saturday after a popcorn machine erupted into flames inside Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla.
The fire occurred early in the first half and prompted fans to be evacuated from the area around the concession center, according to multiple reports, before the flames were extinguished and the Southeastern Conference game resumed.
Different videos from Lloyd Noble Center showed people getting ushered away from the area near the machine — which was located at a concession stand on the venue’s concourse — and the sprinkler system eventually putting out the fire and leading to a smokey scene.
“I’m just glad the sprinkler system worked just for the safety of everybody but also that we were able to resume play,” Oklahoma head coach Porter Moser told reporters after the game, according to KOCO News 5. “I literally looked up and I’m like, ‘This is just, I mean, add it to the list’ in terms of stuff I’ve never seen like it. I mean, it was a huge flame.”
The delay occurred with 15:31 remaining, with Georgia leading 11-7, and SEC Network analyst Rodney Terry described the scene as a “full-blown fire going on right now.”
“A popcorn machine, it looks like,” play-by-play announcer Kevin Fitzgerald said, according to Awful Announcing. “Everybody’s starting to clear out. You can see the sprinkler overhead system is working right now. So, our officials, they pointed up there. Goodness gracious. Everybody is scattered from that area. The sprinkler system working effectively here. Oh my gosh! Well, good catch, partner. I didn’t even notice that. It seems like we have avoided any sort of catastrophic situation.”
Fitzgerald later made a joke about the popcorn being “overcooked,” saying, “Talk about burnt popcorn.”
Once the game resumed, the Sooners bounced back from their early deficit to earn a commanding 94-78 victory over the Bulldogs — serving as their second victory in a row after nine consecutive losses ruined their conference record.
Tae Davis led Oklahoma with 19 points, while Nijel Pack chipped in 18 and the Sooners overcame 20 points from the Bulldogs’ Blue Cain.
Oklahoma will travel to face Tennessee next on Wednesday, while Georgia faces No. 25 Kentucky in Lexington on Tuesday.
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