COLUMBIA (AP) -- Missouri guard Ricky Clemons, the second-leading scorer for the No. 11 Tigers, was suspended from the team Friday after he was accused of choking a woman at his home and preventing her from leaving.
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Missouri starting point guard Ricky Clemons, shown here in Monday's game at Syracuse, won't play today at Oklahoma State after being charged with second-degree domestic assault in connection with a disturbance Thursday night.
Associated Press photo
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Clemons, a junior-college transfer, turned himself in to authorities Friday afternoon on a charge of second-degree domestic assault in connection with the Thursday night disturbance, police said.
Clemons, whose birth name is Enique Eugene Clemons, was being held in lieu of $5,000 bond Friday night, a police dispatcher said.
Clemons, 22, will not play in Missouri's game today at No. 24 Oklahoma State, though it remains unclear how long his suspension might last, said Missouri sports information director Chad Moller.
"We know he won't play (against the Cowboys), but beyond that we don't know," Moller said.
In a statement issued Friday night, Missouri coach Quin Snyder said Clemons has denied that an altercation took place, as well as taking part in any violent act against his accuser.
While the school investigates Clemons' possible role in the matter, Snyder said, "I am concerned for the welfare of both these young people, and we will do whatever is in our power to help facilitate a resolution of this problem for them.
"Neither the Missouri Athletic Department, any of my staff, nor I condone in any way domestic violence of any sort," Snyder said. "And therefore, if it is ever satisfactorily proven that any of my players committed a felonious act of violence on another person, then appropriate and severe action will be taken."
Snyder called the accusation "a very serious charge, and the character of my players and our program is always my top priority."
Police said the victim -- identified only as a 20-year-old from Columbia -- told them Friday she had been assaulted by Clemons about 9:30 p.m. Thursday. Clemons surrendered to Columbia police after investigators called the Tigers' basketball office and asked that he do so.
Clemons, a junior college all-American last season at the College of Southern Idaho, has started all 12 games this season for Missouri (10-2), averaging 17.2 points and 32.8 minutes a game.
The 5-foot-11, 172-pound junior from Raleigh, N.C., leads the Tigers in assists (5.7 average) and steals (16) while shooting 47 percent from the field, 81 percent from the free-throw line and 45 percent from 3-point range.
