By WFAN.com
The 2018/2019 college basketball season has yet to begin, but there is already drama at one New York area school.
Roland Griffin was dismissed from Iona's men's basketball team after an altercation ocurred Monday between Griffin and an assistant coach. Griffin, who was one of the Gael's best players last season has since spoken to Stadium and claimed that he acted in self-defense after he was attacked by coach Garfield "Ricky" Johns.
"I had a tutor later, and wasn't scheduled for study hall. He started yelling at me," said Griffin to Stadium. "We got in each other's face. It was really heated. He eventually grabbed me by the jacket and tried to throw me down on the ground physically. We were against the locker, wrestling against the locker. He was grabbing me and holding me. He tried to wrestle me down, and I ended up on top. I'm not going to let another man physically do that to me. I punched him four or five times, then I stopped."
On Wednesday, Griffin was informed that he had been suspended by the school until May 31, 2020. During that time he can not participate in class or in any other event associated with Iona College. He is also forbidden from being on all campus-owned property. Johns has reportedly not been disciplined by the school or by head coach Tim Cluess.
MORE: Van Wagenen Agrees In Principle To Become New Mets GM
Griffin has since filed a police report detailing the incident. This was set to be the forward's senior year at Iona. He began his collegiate career at Illinois State, then switched to Midland College and then transferred to Iona before last season.
The Gaels will begin their new season on November 9 when the Albany Great Danes come to New Rochelle.
