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January 16, 2013 at 3:19 PM

Michigan State's Branden Dawson, right and Adreian Payne watch from the bench during the first half as their team takes on Penn State in an NCAA college basketball game in State College, Pa., Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013.AP Photo/Ralph Wilson

Police: Michigan State players engage in altercation at Nittany Lion Inn

By Sam Janesch and John Stuetz
Collegian Staff Writers

Michigan State basketball players Branden Dawson and Adreian Payne will not start in tonight's game against Penn State due to a physical altercation that occurred between them this morning, coach Tom Izzo said in a statement.

Izzo confirmed the event in the statement, announcing that both players would take full responsibility for their actions.

"A scuffle that began as two players needling each other resulted in a dented wall," Izzo said. "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."
 
At 11:11 a.m., the two players engaged in a verbal dispute in a lobby area on the second floor of the hotel, Penn State police said. The argument escalated and one player punched the other one in the face, and then the player who was punched also punched back, police said.

One of the men also shoved the other into a wall, which caused minor damage to the wall, police said.

Police said they arrived at the hotel as the team was on a bus about to go to the Bryce Jordan Center, but they spoke to Dawson and Payne. Both players had cuts on their faces when police arrived and were cooperative in speaking with the officers, police said.

Police said they are still investigating the case and are determining whether or not charges will be filed.

Dawson, a sophomore guard, is the team's third-leading scorer with 10.5 points per game and has started all 17 games this season for the 14-3 Spartan squad. 

Meanwhile, Payne is a junior center, who averages 8.5 points per game and leads the Spartans with 7.2 rebounds per game. Payne has started just six games this season, but was expected to return to the starting lineup tonight prior to the altercation.

The Lions will look for their first conference victory as they take on the Spartans at 7 p.m. at the Bryce Jordan Center.
 
Read Thursday’s edition of The Daily Collegian for more information. 

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