Lyons suspended indefinitely in wake of traffic citations

By STEVE WALENTIK of the Tribune’s staff

Published Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Leo Lyons won’t be suiting up for the Missouri basketball team when the Tigers take the floor against Colorado tomorrow night.

Lyons

Coach Mike Anderson suspended Lyons indefinitely yesterday in the wake of his Sunday night arrest for several traffic-related offenses, and he made clear yesterday afternoon at the team’s weekly media session that the suspension will include tomorrow’s 8 p.m. tip-off at Mizzou Arena.

"He’s indefinitely suspended, and with that being said, right now, he won’t be playing in the Colorado game," Anderson said. "He’s suspended for that game, and depending on what takes place between now and then, I’ll make my decision as to other games."

Lyons was arrested after Columbia Police stopped him at 11:28 p.m. near the intersection of Grindstone Parkway and Rock Quarry Road. He was driving without the car’s lights on, and he failed to produce proof of insurance. That’s when police also learned of an outstanding misdemeanor warrant stemming from a previous fine that went unpaid.

Anderson said that fine came in 2006 after Lyons was ticketed for making an illegal U-turn.

"It was one of those situations where a guy didn’t take care of maybe a ticket that was probably $10, $15, $20," Anderson said.

This marks the third time Lyons has been suspended since Anderson took over the MU program in 2006. He missed one exhibition game for violating the team’s academic policy in November of that year. He was also one of five players suspended in the early morning altercation outside the Athena Night Club last January. Lyons was not directly involved in that altercation and missed one game for violating the team’s curfew.

His most recent suspension means the Tigers, coming off a disappointing 56-51 loss at Nebraska on Saturday, will be without their second-leading scorer and rebounder in their first Big 12 Conference home game of the season. Lyons, who scored a team-high 12 points in Saturday’s loss, is averaging 14.6 points and 6.2 rebounds this season.

Junior forward Keith Ramsey, a junior college transfer, is the most likely candidate to start in Lyons’ place. He is averaging 3.9 points and 3.5 rebounds off the bench this season. Anderson could also elect to go with sophomore forward Justin Safford, who has contributed 3.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in the first 16 contests.

Anderson said yesterday it would be a game-time decision. No matter whom he chooses, that player will mark the first change to Missouri’s starting lineup this season.

Reach Steve Walentik at (573) 815-1788 or swalentik@tribmail.com.