• Video: Highlights of P'Allen Stinnett during Sunday night's win over Missouri State, including his technical foul:



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Neither Creighton coach Dana Altman nor P’Allen Stinnett would comment Monday on whether the technical foul that Stinnett received in Sunday’s game against Missouri State triggered the player’s suspension from the team.

Altman suspended the junior guard from Las Vegas indefinitely for conduct not acceptable to the team. Altman declined to comment about what might have led to the suspension or its length, and he indicated that he will make no further comment about the matter at this time.

Stinnett also declined to comment on any specifics. In a text message to The World-Herald, Stinnett did issue an apology, apparently for his actions that led to a technical midway through the second half of the 76-72 win over Missouri State.

“I need to find some way to play hard and channel my emotions in a positive way,’’ Stinnett wrote. “I apologize to Creighton, to my team and my coaching staff in my failure to represent the university with the respect and attitude that I should.

“Also to the refs and fans that were offended by my actions. This doesn’t mean I won’t play the game with passion and emotion because our team needs that.’’

Stinnett received his second technical of the season, and ninth of his career, shortly after he stole the ball at midcourt and drove in for a dunk that cut Missouri State’s lead to two points with 12:38 to play.

It’s unclear what happened next, although referee Curtis Shaw and Stinnett apparently exchanged words. The exchange continued during a stoppage of play following a foul with 12:25 left.

Shaw was near the Missouri State bench, with Stinnett about 5 feet away. Two reporters seated near the bench heard Missouri State coach Cuonzo Martin tell Shaw that Stinnett had “cussed’’ the official.

“You can’t let him do that,’’ Martin told Shaw.

Shaw hesitated briefly, then called the technical foul on Stinnett. The referee and Altman had a brief conversation, and Altman removed Stinnett from the game.

Stinnett did not re-enter the game until 6:24 remained. He was subbed out at the 3:35 mark and did not play after that. He finished with eight points on 4-of-5 shooting and had two rebounds, one assist and one turnover in 19 minutes.

Altman was asked at his postgame press conference if the referee had informed him why he gave Stinnett a technical. “I don’t know,’’ Altman replied. “He just said he needed a T.’’

Stinnett was not at Monday’s two-hour practice at Creighton’s Vinardi Center. At the end of the session, Altman gathered the team around him in one corner of the practice facility. The meeting lasted about 10 minutes.

Afterward, Altman said Stinnett was suspended when asked by a World-Herald reporter. The coach declined to answer additional questions.

“There’s a release,’’ said Altman, referring to a four-paragraph press release the university issued late Monday afternoon.

Several players contacted Monday night said that Altman told them not to comment about the situation. “He said if asked we’re supposed to say it’s between ‘P’ and Coach,’’ one player said.

Stinnett was one of Altman’s highest ranked recruits when he joined the program before the 2007-08 season. He made an immediate impact, scoring 23 second-half points in his first game to rally the Bluejays to a victory over DePaul. He wound up becoming the first freshman to lead the team in scoring (12.6 average) since Creighton’s all-time leading scorer, Rodney Buford, did it in 1995-96.

The Missouri Valley Conference named Stinnett its freshman and newcomer of the year. He was the only freshman to earn all-conference honorable mention.

He came back to average 12.5 points last season and earn second-team All-Valley honors. He started this season as a preseason first-team All-Valley pick but has struggled at times.

He does lead the team in steals (19) but also in turnovers (49). He ranks second in scoring (9.2 average) and assists (49) and is tied for third in rebounding average (3.6). He has started 15 of 20 games while averaging a team-high 25.8 minutes per contest.

Stinnett’s emotional style has led to some problems, specifically with technical fouls. He also missed one game last season apparently because of a disciplinary action, although Altman simply called it a “coach’s decision’’ not to play Stinnett against Nebraska.

In spite of the sometimes rocky nature of his career, Stinnett has been productive. He recently became the 33rd player in school history to score 1,000 points, and his eight points Sunday moved him into 31st place on the school’s all-time scoring chart.

Altman said Stinnett’s suspension does not change the way the Bluejays will approach Wednesday’s road game at Bradley. He said redshirt freshman Josh Jones, who has averaged 1.5 points in 13 games, probably will get some of the minutes that Stinnett had been playing.

“Josh Jones will get an opportunity,’’ Altman said. “Cavel (Witter), Kaleb (Korver), all of our wing players will get a little more to fill in his minutes.’’

Contact the writer:

679-2298, steve.pivovar@owh.com