Southern Conference commissioner John Iamarino upheld the mandatory one-game suspension of University of Tennessee at Chattanooga forward Chris Early on Monday in accordance with conference regulations.
Early was ejected from the Mocs' loss at Davidson on Saturday for a flagrant foul on Jake Cohen during a rebounding play.
The regulation reads, "a coach or player removed from a contest for any reason shall be immediately suspended from their teams' next contest."
"The key fact is that he hit him above the shoulders," Iamarino said. "I wouldn't characterize what I saw as 'sizing-up.'
"None of the reports indicate there was anything going on earlier between the two players or that this was in retaliation. You just can't hit anybody above the shoulders these days. It's something we look for in all sports."
See Tuesday's Times Free Press for more coverage.