Sophomore welcomed back after dispute in practice
The door did not close on a player's future as a member of the Indiana State University men's basketball team, securing the Sycamores some needed roster depth as they head into the thick of the Missouri Valley Conference season.
Sophomore guard Eric Gray has returned to the team, but he will serve a three-game suspension, ISU Coach Royce Waltman said Tuesday.
"[Gray] is already back practicing with the team," confirmed Waltman. "He will serve a three-game suspension."
ISU's second-leading scorer will begin serving his suspension on Thursday when the Sycamores travel to its next game against Illinois State. He will also sit out home contests against Northern Iowa and Creighton, then would return to action against Wichita State on Jan. 15.
Gray left the squad for personal reasons during a team practice Dec. 31 and did not accompany the Sycamores to Peoria (Ill.) for Sunday's game at Bradley. Attempts to reach Gray were unsuccessful Tuesday.
"There was a disagreement between [Gray] and the coaches in practice and he reacted by leaving," Waltman explained on Sunday.
"We never slam the door on somebody, not on a 20-year-old kid who made what could be a life-altering decision, We won't say anything to make his mind up. We'll just be open to whatever he's thinking about."
The timing of Gray's departure from the team was strange, coming the day after scoring a career-high and game-high 29 points in ISU's 74-69 overtime loss to Drake in the Missouri Valley Conference opener in Hulman Center.
Against Drake, Gray equaled a school record of eight 3-point baskets, while setting a record for 3-point field goal attempts of 19.
Gray has appeared in 12 games, 11 as a starter, this season for the Sycamores and is the team's second-leading scorer at 12 points per game. Gray is shooting just over 34 percent from the field, but is hitting at nearly a 32 percent clip (23-of-72) on 3-pointers and 83 percent from the free throw stripe.
As a freshman, Gray averaged 7.6 points per game, and shot .344 from 3-point range (44-of-128).
Against Bradley on Sunday, Gray was replaced in the starting lineup by freshman point guard Gabriel Moore. Tyson Schnitker moved over to shooting guard and tied his career high with 15 points. ISU was also missing guards Logan Whitman (back) and Elliott Booe (flu), while Russell Trudeau saw extended playing time with a season-high 25 minutes.
Waltman activated walk-on Marc Urban to give his team some needed depth. Urban played in the final minute at Bradley and should be active for the foreseeable future, Waltman said.
The door did not close on a player's future as a member of the Indiana State University men's basketball team, securing the Sycamores some needed roster depth as they head into the thick of the Missouri Valley Conference season.
Sophomore guard Eric Gray has returned to the team, but he will serve a three-game suspension, ISU Coach Royce Waltman said Tuesday.
"[Gray] is already back practicing with the team," confirmed Waltman. "He will serve a three-game suspension."
ISU's second-leading scorer will begin serving his suspension on Thursday when the Sycamores travel to its next game against Illinois State. He will also sit out home contests against Northern Iowa and Creighton, then would return to action against Wichita State on Jan. 15.
Gray left the squad for personal reasons during a team practice Dec. 31 and did not accompany the Sycamores to Peoria (Ill.) for Sunday's game at Bradley. Attempts to reach Gray were unsuccessful Tuesday.
"There was a disagreement between [Gray] and the coaches in practice and he reacted by leaving," Waltman explained on Sunday.
"We never slam the door on somebody, not on a 20-year-old kid who made what could be a life-altering decision, We won't say anything to make his mind up. We'll just be open to whatever he's thinking about."
The timing of Gray's departure from the team was strange, coming the day after scoring a career-high and game-high 29 points in ISU's 74-69 overtime loss to Drake in the Missouri Valley Conference opener in Hulman Center.
Against Drake, Gray equaled a school record of eight 3-point baskets, while setting a record for 3-point field goal attempts of 19.
Gray has appeared in 12 games, 11 as a starter, this season for the Sycamores and is the team's second-leading scorer at 12 points per game. Gray is shooting just over 34 percent from the field, but is hitting at nearly a 32 percent clip (23-of-72) on 3-pointers and 83 percent from the free throw stripe.
As a freshman, Gray averaged 7.6 points per game, and shot .344 from 3-point range (44-of-128).
Against Bradley on Sunday, Gray was replaced in the starting lineup by freshman point guard Gabriel Moore. Tyson Schnitker moved over to shooting guard and tied his career high with 15 points. ISU was also missing guards Logan Whitman (back) and Elliott Booe (flu), while Russell Trudeau saw extended playing time with a season-high 25 minutes.
Waltman activated walk-on Marc Urban to give his team some needed depth. Urban played in the final minute at Bradley and should be active for the foreseeable future, Waltman said.
