Shaun Lawton, one of only two seniors on the University of Maine men’s basketball team, has been suspended.
UMaine revealed on Friday afternoon that Lawton has been suspended from the team because of a failure to meet team standards.
“We have very high standards for our program, and they are communicated very clearly to everyone on our team,” said head coach Bob Walsh, who did not disclose the details of the decision. “Unfortunately, Shaun has not lived up to those standards. My hope is that Shaun will learn and grow from this experience.”
Lawton, a 6-foot-5 guard, averaged 9.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and a team-best 1.9 steals last season. He appeared in 29 games and averaged 32.3 minutes per contest.
Walsh said the decision to suspend Lawton was made on Thursday, but the hope is that he will return.
“There is no determined length of time. It’s not permanent,” Walsh said.
Most of the Black Bears will be in action on Saturday morning during the annual Skip Chappelle Scrimmage.
Fans will have the opportunity to get a glimpse of UMaine’s eight newcomers, along with a cast of veterans led by Till Gloger, Garet Beal of Beals Island, Kevin Little and Aaron Calixte.
“We’re going to split them into two teams, and we’re going to try to play for 40 minutes,” Walsh said. “We want to get them in a game situation with all the fouls and the warts and the problems and the issues.”
Sophomore Troy Reid-Knight and freshmen Aaron Bernstein and Vincent Eze will be sitting out with injuries, none of which are expected to be long-term concerns, according to Walsh.
The scrimmage gets underway at 10 a.m. in Memorial Gym and is expected to last until noon. UMaine’s exhibition opener at the University of Southern Maine is scheduled for Oct. 31.
Bangor Savings to partner with UM women’s hoop
The UMaine athletics department on Monday will celebrate a new title sponsor as part of a press conference and youth basketball clinic at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
UMaine is poised to announce a new relationship with Bangor Savings Bank that will benefit the Black Bears women’s basketball program and area youngsters.
UMaine President Susan Hunter, UMaine athletics director Karlton Creech, Black Bears women’s basketball head coach Richard Barron and Bangor Savings Bank President and CEO Bob Montgomery Rice will discuss the sponsorship during a 4 p.m. press conference. Sen. Susan Collins will make remarks in a video and will be represented by a staff member.
The UMaine women’s basketball team, its ball girls and aspiring athletes also will be on hand for the event.
The press conference will be followed by a free youth clinic for players in grades two through seven. The session will run from 4-5:30 p.m., and the first 100 participants will receive a T-shirt.
UMaine players and coaches will offer skill instruction on the Cross Insurance Center court, then will sign free 2015-16 schedule posters that will be distributed.
A previous version of this story incorrectly reported that Sen. Collins would be making a personal appearance at the event.