Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
This is something no coach or teammate wants to see: two teammates fighting one another. That was the case at the Michigan State team hotel on Wednesday morning when sophomore Branden Dawson and junior Adriean Payne got into an argument.
The fight reportedly began in the second-floor lobby at the Nittany Lion Inn. It started as a verbal altercation between the two players and then escalated into a physical altercation, resulting in punches to the face of both and denting the wall in the lobby after a series of shoves.
Head coach Tom Izzo released a statement shortly after the fight concluded:
“A scuffle that began as two players needling each other resulted in a dented wall. We’ll deal with this appropriately, and the players will willingly accept responsibility for paying for any property damage. I’ve spent my entire afternoon meeting with the players involved and they are both sincerely remorseful. What makes matters even more confusing is that they are off-campus roommates. As a result of their actions neither one will start tonight’s game.”
Police chief Tyrone Parham was investigating the incident and said that no charges will be filed and neither player needed any sort of medical attention.
Izzo is obviously disappointed in his team following this incident. What makes this scuffle even more confusing is that these two players are good friends and roommates off-campus.
Both players have been a presence this year as Dawson has averaged 10.5 points and just over six rebounds while Payne averages 8.5 and just over seven rebounds per game.
Neither player will start tonight against Penn State and further punishments have yet to be announced. With Izzo as the head coach, I wouldn’t be surprised to see these two players suspended for a short period of time or see a reduced number of minutes for a while.
Tough break for MSU.
