An on-court confrontation in which ASU center Ruslan
Pateev
punched Southern Mississippi’s Torye Pelham in the back of
the head cost the Sun Devil one game.

The Pac-12 handed down the suspension late Tuesday, and
the junior will not play in the team’s game against Fresno
State Wednesday at Wells Fargo Arena.

“All of our student-athletes must adhere to the Pac-12’s
policies on Sportsmanship and Standards of Conduct, which
call for our student athletes to treat opponents with
respect and create and ensure a collegiate atmosphere in
which to conduct competition,” Pac-12 Commissioner Larry
Scott said in a statement. “In addition to not adhering to
the Conference rules, Mr. Pateev’s actions were a clear
violation of the NCAA Playing Rules and he is being
appropriately penalized by serving a one-game suspension.”

Pateev was ejected Monday after receiving a Flagrant 2
Technical Foul. Should he receive another foul of that
kind he will be suspended for the remainder of ASU’s
season.

Follow @theAdamGreen