HONOLULU (AP) — The two Mississippi State players caught on camera fighting in the stands of the Diamond Head Classic have been suspended indefinitely and sent home from Hawaii.
Renardo Sidney and Elgin Bailey, who are roommates, were involved in a fistfight after the Bulldogs’ game Thursday night. The altercation lasted for several minutes before being broken up by teammates and coaches.
MSU athletic director Scott Stricklin sent out a tweet on Friday saying “The actions that took place in Hawaii were embarrassing to all of us who love Mississippi State. This behavior will not be tolerated.”
In a release from the university, coach Rick Stansbury expressed his disappointment.
“In my 13 years as a head coach, we’ve never had anything like this happen before,” he said. “I am very disappointed in the actions of Elgin Bailey and Renardo Sidney and in no way does it reflect the overall picture of our program. It is not how we want our men’s basketball team to be viewed nationally.”
It’s the latest in a string of issues for Sidney. The NCAA ruled last March he had to repay $11,800 in improper benefits and sit out the remainder of the 2010 season and nine more games this season.
It’s a huge blow for the Bulldogs, who are now without two of their best frontcourt players. Sidney, a 6-foot-10 sophomore who was one of the most highly-recruited players of the 2009 class, has averaged 15.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in two games this season. Bailey, a 6-foot-8 junior, has started 10 out of 11 games and is averaging 6.2 points and 3.9 rebounds.
Sidney and Bailey will miss at least the next two games. MSU (8-4) plays Hawaii on Saturday in the Diamond Head Classic and then travels to Las Vegas to face St. Mary’s on Wednesday.
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.