Epps gets one-game suspension

Victoria Sun

Thursday, Nov. 4, 1999 | 10:40 a.m.

Sometimes, the best lessons are learned through experience.

UNLV men's basketball coach Bill Bayno announced on Wednesday that center Issiah Epps will be suspended for one game as a result of Epps' self-imposed hiatus from the team's practice last Sunday.

"We had to do it," Bayno said. "He accepted it. We move on.

"He's a good kid who has never done anything to hurt the team, but we're all accountable to the team for our actions."

Epps, a 6-foot-10 senior, stormed out of the middle of practice on Saturday then skipped it on Sunday. He further complicated matters by not telling his teammates or his roommate, Sylvester Dotson, his whereabouts.

Epps will serve his suspension during the Rebels' exhibition game against the Global Sports All-Stars at the Thomas & Mack Center on Monday night .

"A punishment is a punishment," Epps said. "To me, it's the coaches' decision so I'm not gonna argue with what they laid out.

"I learned that what I did is, I put myself in jeopardy and my teammates in jeopardy. Because of what I did, I broke a family bond.

"Because I didn't respond to it like a family, that might hurt the team. Now I'm still trying to learn from my mistakes."

REBELS ON THE RADIO: All UNLV men's basketball games will be broadcast live on KBAD-920 AM, starting with Monday's exhibition. Ken Korach and Glen Gondrezick will be calling the action all season long.