( CNN ) -- Tennis great Jimmy Connors was arrested outside the campus arena where UC Santa Barbara and top-ranked North Carolina were playing a basketball game . Connors was reportedly arrested as he attended a college basketball game in California . The eight-time Grand Slam champion was taken into custody on Friday night after refusing to comply with an order to leave an area near the entrance of the Thunderdome following a confrontation , police said in a statement . A Santa Barbara County jail employee said Connors was booked and released but did not have details . Connors could not immediately be reached for comment on Saturday . Connors is one of the all-time greats of the sport , having been ranked as world number one for five consecutive years in the 1970s . He was also renowned for his fiery temperament on the court as he battled his way to 109 career titles . The 56-year-old returned to the mainstream tennis fold by acting as coach to American number one Andy Roddick , but their two-year relationship ended earlier this year . Connors , who lives in the Santa Barbara area , is an occasional visitor to watch his local college basketball team who were beaten 84-67 by the top-ranked North Carolina . Copyright 2008 CNN . All rights reserved.This material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed . Associated Press contributed to this report .
Tennis star Jimmy Connors arrested after row at basketball game , report AP . Connors , 56 , was held outside the campus arena in Santa Barbara , California . A Santa Barbara County jail employee said Connors was booked and released .