Maryland center Diamond Stone suspended 1 game by coach

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) Maryland freshman center Diamond Stone has been suspended for a game by coach Mark Turgeon for his behavior Saturday against Wisconsin.

Stone was issued a dead ball technical foul late in the first half. After Stone and Wisconsin's Vitto Brown went to the floor underneath the basket, Stone pushed Brown's face onto the court after they became untangled.

Turgeon said Monday that Stone will miss Thursday's game at Minnesota.

The Big Ten office backed up the suspension with a public reprimand of Stone for ''violating the Big Ten Sportsmanship Policy.''

Turgeon issued an apology to Brown and Wisconsin coach Greg Gard, calling Stone's conduct ''a poor representation of the standards'' set at Maryland.

''I have talked with Diamond and he realizes he made a mistake,'' Turgeon said. ''He felt very badly about what happened and will learn from this experience.''

Referees called Stone for a flagrant foul but did not eject him from the game, which then-second ranked Maryland lost 70-57.

In a statement, Stone called his behavior ''unacceptable'' and apologized to Brown.

''I regret that I let the emotions of the game get the best of me,'' Stone said. ''I let my team down and I accept full responsibility for my actions.''

Stone is averaging 13 points and 5.6 rebounds a game for the Terrapins (22-4), who fell to No. 6 in the rankings released Monday.