Illinois' Rayvonte Rice, Aaron Cosby suspended

CHAMPAIGN — It was hoped that both Rayvonte Rice and Aaron Cosby would rejoin Illinois’ lineup Saturday at noon against Penn State. Instead, the school revealed about an hour before tipoff that both Rice and Cosby — sidelined for recent games by hand and eye injuries, respectively — had been suspended.

“Rayvonte and Aaron have been suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules,” said coach John Groce in a statement. “Hopefully they will make better choices and make the necessary progress to rejoin our lineup.”

There was no further explanation given for the suspensions.

Rice, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, will miss his seventh consecutive game Saturday since breaking a bone in his left hand. Cosby will miss his third since sustaining a retinal tear in his left eye.

It has been a season marked by suspensions and injuries for the 13-8 Illini, who still can get to .500 in the Big Ten standings with victories over Penn State and, here on Tuesday, Rutgers.

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