US, Chinese basketballers brawl during Biden visit

BEIJING (AP) — A bench-clearing brawl at an exhibition game between American and Chinese basketball teams today marred the orchestrated harmony of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's visit to China.

The fight between the Georgetown University men's basketball team and the Bayi Rockets tonight in Beijing forced the game to end early. Biden did not attend the game. However, on Wednesday he watched the Georgetown team beat the Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons 98-81.

Georgetown Hoyas head coach John Thompson III said in an emailed statement that the team regretted the incident.

"Tonight, two great teams played a very competitive game that unfortunately ended after heated exchanges with both teams," he said. "We sincerely regret that this situation occurred."