Who do you believe?

Trouble seems to follow Bozeman wherever he goes.

Some who viewed the incident in person, including school president George E. Cooper, thought that Bozeman had punched Bastfield in the face. Both Bozeman and Bastfield said Sunday night that the incident had been blown out of proportion.

In a telephone interview, Bastfield said that he “exaggerated” his reaction to the contact with Bozeman. Bastfield staggered a few feet backwards after contact with Bozeman, who, according to witnesses, yelled at Bastfield, “Get back here!” after he retreated.

“These people are completely off the charts” with the allegation, Bozeman said in a telephone interview. “I didn’t hit him in the face.”

But Christopher Johnson, a South Carolina State graduate who was attending the game, said that he and others clearly saw Bozeman strike the player and hear him yell at Bastfield moments later. Johnson said he was sitting in the front row of the upper level of the small gym.

“The fans all went, ‘Ohhhhhhh’ when it happened,” Johnson said. “It was pretty dramatic.”