STARKVILLE — Mississippi State men”s basketball coach Rick Stansbury announced Monday the suspensions levied to junior forward Elgin Bailey and sophomore forward Renardo Sidney for their altercation in Hawaii on Dec. 23 have been lifted, effective immediately.
The 13th-year coach also announced Bailey has asked to be released from the team in order to transfer.
“Elgin told me of his plans to transfer, and I wish him the best as he moves on,” Stansbury said. “He”s worked extremely hard for us during his time here. Elgin has had to deal with some very tough injuries, but he”s worked very hard to get to where he is now. Wherever he ends up, I hope he”s able to have a lot of success.
“As for this team, it”s time to move on and learn from these mistakes. Hopefully, by sending Sid and Elgin home following the incident, a strong message was sent that this type of behavior is unacceptable.”
Earlier Monday, on the weekly Southeastern Conference men”s basketball teleconference, Stansbury said he was still reviewing the situation regarding Sidney and Bailey and was “close” to finalizing a decision. He said he expected a decision to come in a couple of days.
“It was inappropriate and unacceptable,” Stansbury said Monday. That is why I sent both of them home from Hawaii.”
Bailey, a native of New Orleans, appeared in 74 games during his career at Mississippi State and recorded 229 points and 161 rebounds to go along with his 44 blocked shots.
This season, he appeared in 12 games and drew 11 starts en route to averaging 5.8 points and 4.3 rebounds.
Sidney has seen action in two games and is averaging 15.5 points and 4.5 boards.
“I”m very embarrassed about what happened,” said Sidney, a native of Jackson, Miss. “I know how bad it looked on TV and the embarrassment it caused for everyone associated with Mississippi State. I”ve had a lot of time to think about it, and I will learn from this mistake, move forward and become a better man.”
MSU (8-6), which just concluded a five-game, 11,701-mile road trip, return to action at 3 p.m. Saturday against the University of Alabama at Humphrey Coliseum (SEC Network) in the SEC opener for both teams.
“We expect all of our student-athletes to represent themselves, our university, athletic program, fans, and alumni in a first-class manner at all times,” MSU Athletics Director Scott Stricklin said. “Hopefully, the disciplinary action that was taken sends a strong message to these young men, and all of our student-athletes, that inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated.”
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