Seton Hall suspended junior guard Sterling Gibbs for two games on Tuesday, after he was ejected Monday night during the Pirates' 80-54 loss to Villanova in Philadelphia.
Gibbs was assessed a flagrant foul 2 and ejected for hitting Ryan Arcidiacono in the face during a scramble for a loose ball.
"Sterling demonstrated poor sportsmanship last night, and he recognizes that what he did was wrong and that he must be held accountable for his actions," Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard said Tuesday in a team release. "This was out of Sterling's character, and I believe this incident does not define the type of person he is or will become. Sterling will learn and grow from this unfortunate event."
Gibbs, the Pirates' leading scorer who is averaging 16.9 points per game, left the game with 4:38 to play after striking the Villanova guard. It was the fifth consecutive loss for a Seton Hall squad that had earned a spot in the national polls earlier this season.
"We support Seton Hall's decision to suspend Sterling Gibbs for his actions in the Villanova game," Big East commissioner Val Ackerman said Tuesday in a statement. "Unsportsmanlike acts like the one that occurred last night have no place in the BIG EAST or college sports."
Gibbs offered a lengthy apology to Arcidiacono in a series of postgame tweets Monday night.
Man that's not who I am. I'm sorry to my family, friends, fans, and team for being an embarrassment. Even more sorry to @RyArch15 .. I let
— Sterling Gibbs (@SterlingGibbs4) February 17, 2015My emotions get the best of me and that wasn't acceptable at all. I hope you're alright and I will face any consequences coming.
— Sterling Gibbs (@SterlingGibbs4) February 17, 2015Sorry again @RyArch15 it really is weighing heavy on my heart.
— Sterling Gibbs (@SterlingGibbs4) February 17, 2015Arcidiacono accepted the apology, replying:
Emotions sometimes get the best of us. heat of the moment thing. We're all good. @SterlingGibbs4
— Ryan Arcidiacono (@RyArch15) February 17, 2015Information from ESPN.com's Myron Medcalf, Kieran Darcy and Andy Katz contributed to this report.