Sophomore will miss the next two games
Mike Morrison was finally starting to get it. But after playing the two best games of his career, the George Mason sophomore will spend the next two on the sideline.
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In getting ejected from Saturday’s loss at Old Dominion, Morrison, by Colonial Athletic Association rule, is out of Tuesday’s game against William & Mary. On Monday morning, GMU athletic director Tom O’Connor tacked on an additional suspension. Morrison also will miss Saturday’s ESPN Bracketbuster game against College of Charleston.
“Our student athletes should be role models. There’s a certain amount of sportsmanship that’s required,” said GMU coach Jim Larranaga. “We just wanted to be sure that, not only Mike, but all the student athletes at George Mason understand that they have a responsibility to conduct themselves in a first-class manner.”
In his previous two games, Morrison had hit 15 of 18 shots, scored 35 points, and grabbed 15 rebounds. Tuesday against VCU, the 6-foot-9 Morrison outplayed a likely NBA first-round pick, Larry Sanders.
But Saturday afternoon at ODU, after starting 25 straight games, Morrison, who averages 8 points and 5.6 rebounds, was on the bench for the opening tip. Unfortunately for Mason, he didn’t stay there. In the second half, Morrison picked up a pair of technical fouls for arguing a referee’s call.
Now slumping Mason (16-10, 11-4), a loser of three of its last four, faces William & Mary (18-7, 10-5), a winner of three straight.
It is the latest in a series of disciplinary actions for GMU. Sophomore starters Ryan Pearson and Andre Cornelius were suspended for a game in December at GW. Both were benched at the start of the VCU game.
“We have 10 players in that freshman/sophomore class,” said Larranaga. “Until they mature and start doing things the George Mason way, there’s always going to be consequences.”
