Former NIU basketball player Darrell Bowie stabbed in Romania

BUCHAREST, Romania – Darrell Bowie, who played three seasons at Northern Illinois University before transferring to Iowa State University, was one of two American basketball players stabbed Saturday night in a club in eastern Romania, authorities said Sunday.

Bowie, 24, and Joseph McClain, 25, who play for local club ACS Cuza Braila, were attacked after a fight broke out with locals. According to an Associated Press report, Bowie had to be flown Sunday to the Emergency Hospital in the Romanian capital, Bucharest, where he underwent emergency surgery. The report said Bowie suffered multiple abdominal wounds, and that his condition is "unpredictable."

McClain suffered stab wounds to his chest and stomach and is in intensive care, according to the report, which added that police spokeswoman Laura Dan said prosecutors were investigating.

Bowie grew up in Milwaukee and averaged 9.6 points a game and 6.5 rebounds a game in 2013-14 before a shoulder injury limited his junior season in 2014-15, during which he'd averaged 13.1 points and 7.1 rebounds a game before he hurt the shoulder Jan. 2 against University of California-Riverside. He finished the year averaging 9.8 points and 5.4 rebounds a game before transferring to Iowa State for his senior year.

Bowie played in 33 games with nine starts for the Cyclones in 2016-17, averaging 5.8 points and 4.1 rebounds and helping them win the Big 12 Tournament and reach the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament.

NIU Sports Information Director Donna Turner said the university is declining to comment on the situation.

• AP sports writer Luke Meredith contributed to this report.