ACC punishes NC State’s D.J. Horne for what he admitted was a ‘disrespectful gesture’
N.C. State guard D.J. Horne on Wednesday was reprimanded by the ACC but not suspended for what he called a “disrespectful gesture” during the Wolfpack’s 83-76 win over Wake Forest.
Horne made an offensive gesture, extending his middle finger with both hands, and directed it toward an official in the second half of Tuesday’s game at PNC Arena.
A statement from the league office said, “The reprimand was issued following the league office’s review of the game and is based on Horne’s involvement in an unsportsmanlike and inappropriate gesture at the end of the game.”
The Pack rallied in the second half to win a game that had six technical fouls called by referees Jeffrey Anderson, Trey Styons and Jeb Hartness.
Anderson assessed Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts two technical fouls and ejected him in the first half. Late in the game, Wake Forest guard Hunter Sallis was given two technicals and the Pack’s Ben Middlebrooks and Mohamed Diarra one technical foul apiece after the players briefly scuffled on the court.
Horne was caught on camera making his gestures, which occurred with 2.2 seconds left in the game when play was stopped following a Wake Forest foul, and it quickly went viral on social media.
He later posted on the social media website “X”, formerly Twitter, saying: “My sincere apologies for whatever happened at the end of the game. I got caught up in the heat of the moment and made a disrespectful gesture that I should have never done. That’s not who I am!”
Horne, the Pack’s leading scorer, had 21 points Tuesday as the Pack improved to 5-1 in the ACC and 13-4 overall. Horne said his teammates “told me I got caught” after the game.
The Wolfpack host Virginia Tech on Saturday at PNC Arena.
This story was originally published January 17, 2024 at 3:11 PM.
