After weeks of building tension, the fallout from South Carolina's contentious game with Missouri has boiled over.

According to a WIS TV report USC women's basketball coach Dawn Staley has filed a defamation lawsuit in civil court against Tiger athletics director Jim Sterk.

"The Defendant defamed Coach Staley by orally publishing to third parties that Coach Staley willfully and intentionally created an atmosphere at a college basketball game designed to incite riotous conduct and behavior by players and fans alike, which is false," the lawsuit reads. "Despite being given multiple opportunities to publicly retract those allegations, the Defendant has refused to do so, only further promoting and suggesting veracity in his patently false allegations."

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The lawsuit stems from comments he made a few days after on a local Missouri radio station.

"Yeah, it wasn't a great atmosphere. It was really kind of unhealthy, if you will," he said on the KTGR Big Show. "We had, you know, players spit on, and called the n-word, and things like that. I mean it was not a good environment, and unfortunately I think, you know, Coach Staley promoted that kind of atmosphere, and it's unfortunate that she felt she had to do that."

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Athletics director Ray Tanner said after the situation and Sterk's comments that the USC athletic department conducted an investigation and found no evidence of racial slurs directed at Missouri players or them being spit on leaving the court.

Tanner also demanded a retraction, but it never came. That, in part, was a reason for the lawsuit, according to the documents.

"Because the Defendant will not retract the slanderous allegations and has flatly refused to admit the falsity of the same, Coach Staley has no choice but to bring this action to clear her good name and excellent reputation, along with the reputation of the South Carolina fan base who were also falsely impugned and maligned by the Defendant's false comments," it reads.

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The Gamecocks have split the regular-season series with Missouri, winning the game at Colonial Life Arena 64-54.

Tanner and Sterk met simultaneously with SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, but no resolution came from it. Sankey did issue a statement.

“I have had discussions with athletic directors at both institutions. Competition among SEC teams is highly tense but can never compromise the expectation of respect between our institutions," Sankey said. "Coach (Robin) Pingeton and Coach Staley have both worked tirelessly to build nationally-ranked teams comprised of outstanding student-athletes, and both teams should be celebrated for their success. I look forward to meeting in person with both athletic directors very soon to reaffirm these shared priorities and expectations.”

View the full lawsuit here.