STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State basketball program has had another preseason blow due to injury at the guard position.
After sophomore point guard Twany Beckham was lost for the season because of hip surgery in August, it was confirmed by MSU team spokesman Gregg Ellis last week that junior guard Riley Benock will miss up to six weeks following a procedure to repair a stress fracture in his right ankle.
Benock, who averaged 2.3 points and 11.4 minutes per game last season, may be recovered enough in time to join the Bulldogs for practice by late October.
Mississippi State tips off the season on Nov. 13 against Rider.
In another basketball-related matter, the NCAA has declared freshman Renardo Sidney “non-certified due to non-response.”
The action was taken by the NCAA due to the refusal of Sidney”s attorney Donald Jackson to turn over tax returns or bank statements that have been requested for several months.
Jackson seems ready to take the case to court in an attempt to clear up Sidney”s status as an amateur athlete so he can play for the Bulldogs.
“If this ultimately winds up in court, it will just have to wind up in court,” Jackson wrote in an email.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.