Tyler Evans Speaks About Being Punched By OU Basketball Player

A University of Oklahoma basketball player that was charged with felony assault Wednesday has also been suspended from the OU basketball team.

Akolda Manyang, 22, is accused of punching a former OU football player in the face over the weekend - and knocking out two of his teeth.

Thursday afternoon, News 9 Crime Tracker Adrianna Iwasinski talked exclusively with that former football player who was hit. Tyler Evans says he was just trying to stop Manyang from hitting on a young lady as they were leaving a bar.

“He was getting handsy,” said Evans. “I told him to back off a few times - kept coming back.”

A former OU lineman, Evans says he just moved back into town last month and was out with some friends when he was punched in the face by Manyang.  Manyang is a 7 foot tall Center for the OU basketball team who is in his junior year.

“I got a 7 foot dunk on my face,” said Evans.

Evans is no small guy either - standing at 6 foot 5. He suffered a busted lip that needed stitches and lost his two front teeth in that one punch.

“I didn't know my teeth were knocked out,” said Evans. “I took a few steps, pulled my teeth out. I pulled my permanent retainer out too.”

Court papers state Evans didn't call police until after he came home and witnesses stated that Evans did not provoke or attack Manyang prior to the punch. He says all he was doing was defending the honor of a couple of girls.

“Yes, good guys finish last,” said Evans.

Evans says he did not know Manyang was a fellow OU athlete and he's pretty sure Manyang didn't know he was either. But he's glad the district attorney is pressing charges.

“If he did it to me, he's going to do it to someone else,” said Evans. “I don't want that to happen.”

The police report states when an officer approached Manyang he denied any involvement in the attack. But an arrest warrant has been issued and Manyang has been suspended from the OU Basketball team indefinitely. As of 4:30 p.m., News 9 has learned Manyang was in the process of being booked into the Cleveland County Jail.