Desean Murray cited for marijuana possession, will not travel to Washington

WKU head coach Rick Stansbury gives instructions to his team during the their game vs. MTSU on Saturday January 20, 2018 in E.A. Diddle Arena. Stansbury’s annual salary was increased by $150,000 due to his recent success and the generosity of the Hilltopper Athletic Foundation.

Alec Jessie

Graduate transfer Desean Murray was cited for marijuana possession prior to his suspension, according to the WKU Police Department crime logs.

Murray’s citation came Friday night at 7:04 p.m., prior to him being forced to sit out against Kentucky Wesleyan Saturday. The citation happened at the Kentucky Street Apartments. 

Murray has been indefinitely suspended for a violation of team rules and will not travel with the team to No. 25 Washington, head coach Rick Stansbury confirmed Saturday.

Murray is the third player to be suspended for a violation of team rules this week.

“We don’t make right decisions, there’s accountability with it,” Stansbury said. “I’ve said this many times: good people make bad decisions, but because you’re a good person making a bad decision, doesn’t mean it’s right. There’s accountability with it, and we’re not going to have it.”

Murray, a graduate transfer from Auburn, averaged 10.1 points per game last season and led the Tigers in rebounding. He had 14 points, three rebounds and two steals in WKU’s exhibition against Campbellsville.

Sophomore guard Taveion Hollingsworth was suspended for the team’s first exhibition against Campbellsville after being cited for marijuana possession. He returned against Kentucky Wesleyan to score 24 points and grab 10 rebounds. Sophomore guard Josh Anderson was suspended for Saturday’s exhibition against KWC after being arrested for disorderly conduct.

“It’s a learning experience, you’ve got to learn from things,” Hollingsworth said of Stansbury’s message to the team amid the issues. “That’s what we’ve got to do.”

Reporter Alec Jessie can be reached at 270-745-6291 and [email protected]. Follow Alec on Twitter at @Alec_Jessie.