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SMU suspends two players Sasser, Bratton disciplined for conduct at party
Posted: Friday March 24, 2000 03:22 PM
DALLAS (AP) -- Two SMU basketball players have been indefinitely suspended for their conduct at a hotel party after the Mustangs lost a first-round game in the Western Athletic Conference tournament. Citing student privacy laws, athletic director Jim Copeland refused to identify the players, but the Fort Worth Star-Telegram identified them as all-WAC guard Jeryl Sasser and reserve Renaldo Bratton. Neither returned telephone messages left by The Associated Press. The 6-foot-6 Sasser was SMU's leading scorer this season. Both he and Bratton, a 6-0 guard, are juniors. In a statement, SMU described what it calls "inappropriate and disruptive behavior involving a few students" in the early morning hours of March 21 at Fresno, Calif., site of the WAC tournament. Two members of the SMU Spirit Squad also were suspended. The problem occurred hours after the Mustangs were beaten by Hawaii 87-82. A Fresno Police Department report said Sasser and Bratton were questioned about problems that took place at a party in their hotel room. Several players and cheerleaders spent the hours after the loss drinking at the Radisson Hotel, according to the police report. Fresno police were called to the hotel, where an SMU cheerleader said two basketball players "touched her through her clothes with their hands." She said she did not want to file formal charges, the report said. "I don't know anything right now. ... I just know they're doing an investigation ... " Sasser told The Dallas Morning News on Wednesday. According to the Fresno police report, Sasser and Bratton denied touching the cheerleader inappropriately. Several players and cheerleaders said they had been drinking, but denied the woman had been assaulted, the report said. Copeland said after reviewing the Fresno police report, he and basketball coach Mike Dement suspended the players indefinitely for violation of team rules. While school officials refused to comment on the nature of the violations, SMU spokesman Bob Wright confirmed that three different investigations were under way -- one by Fresno police, one by the team and one by SMU's office of student affairs. The student affairs investigation could lead to punishment ranging from probation with counseling to expulsion. Both Bratton and Sasser remained on the team as SMU competed in the NIT against Southwest Missouri State last Thursday. The Mustangs lost 77-64. Wright said the school received the police report two days before SMU's appearance in the NIT, but took no action against the players because the report "contained new and different information not given to us previously." Darren McCoy, SMU spirit coordinator, voluntarily resigned from the school early in the investigation in which three squad members were questioned. The Fresno police report said McCoy had "bloodshot watery eyes, a strong odor of alcohol" and "attempted to obstruct police questioning of one of the spirit members." University officials began their investigation of possible violations of SMU's code of conduct during a school-sponsored trip, including documentation of under-age drinking. The Fresno report said a player gave vodka to a squad member.
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