A University of Massachusetts basketball player was arrested early Friday morning in an altercation in Lot 50 on John Adams Road in Southwest Residential Area.

Sophomore Maurice C. Maxwell, 22, of Philadelphia, Pa., was arrested at approximately 2 a.m. for assault and battery and disorderly conduct. Maxwell is a forward and returning starter for the Minutemen.

According to UMass Police Chief Barbara O’Connor, Maxwell was allegedly involved in a disturbance around the Patterson dorm area where one group of people confronted another. O’Connor said Maxwell was allegedly exchanging words with another male party, when an unidentified woman stepped in between the two and Maxwell shoved her.

O’Connor said two cadet officers were present during the altercation and called UMass police, who reported Maxwell to be extremely agitated and to have refused to calm down. Maxwell was then arrested. The UMass athletic department was unable to be reached at press time.