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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted at 11:32 p.m., Friday, March 20, 2009

NCAA: Fan dies before Utah-Arizona basketball game

By Andre C. Fernandez and Sarah Rothschild
McClatchy Newspapers

MIAMI — A male fan in his mid-70s died after collapsing during the national anthem for the Utah-Arizona NCAA Tournament game at AmericanAirlines Arena on Friday night.

Lt. Ignatius Carroll, a spokesman for Miami Fire Rescue, said the man was unresponsive and was not breathing even after having CPR administered to him.

The fan was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital by Miami Fire Rescue, and Carroll said the fan was pronounced dead shortly after arriving to the hospital.

The man's identity was not released, but according to the Associated Press, he was from the Fort Lauderdale area.

Tournament officials at AmericanAirlines Arena also said they did not know specifics related to the incident.

The man was sitting in a section about 20 rows up from the court among Cleveland State fans.