The Kent State athletic department suspended junior guard Chris Singletary for the first game of the Mid-American Conference men’s basketball tournament, which begins today in Cleveland.

Singletary was ejected from Sunday afternoon’s game against Akron for striking Zips forward Nate Linhart just 1:08 into the game.

The MAC office said following the game it did not plan to discipline Singletary further, but the athletic department decided on the suspension after reviewing the play.

“After reviewing the circumstances of the flagrant foul charged against Chris, coach Geno Ford and I have reached the decision to suspend him for Tuesday’s game,” Director of Athletics Laing Kennedy said in a statement. ” … Coach Ford and I feel the situation required additional attention and disciplinary action from our end.”

Kent State will play Northern Illinois at 2 p.m. today without Singletary, the team’s second-leading scorer. Singletary is averaging 12.1 points and 4.2 rebounds per game this season.

“This is strong and appropriate action from the administration and coaching staff at Kent State University,” MAC Commissioner Rick Chryst said in a statement. “The conduct that prompted the flagrant personal foul call in yesterday’s Akron contest, and subsequent game ejection of Chris Singletary, is isolated in nature and not at all reflective of the high respect that the Kent State basketball program, and truly the entire league, is known for.”

Contact sports editor Doug Gulasy at [email protected].