Bailey To Leave Mississippi State

Updated: January 3, 2011, 7:07 PM ET

Elgin Bailey to leave Mississippi State

ESPN.com news services

Mississippi State has reinstated the eligibility of forwards Elgin Bailey and Renardo Sidney, suspended indefinitely last month for their fight in the stands as they were watching a Diamond Head Classic game in Honolulu.

Coach Rick Stansbury said Bailey was seeking a transfer and had asked for and been granted a release from the team.

"I wish him the best as he moves on," Stansbury said in a statement. "He's worked extremely hard for us during his time here. Elgin has had to deal with some very tough injuries, but he's worked very hard to get to where he is now. Wherever he ends up, I hope he's able to have a lot of success."

Bailey, a captain for the Bulldogs, has averaged 5.8 points and 4.3 rebounds in 12 games this season as a junior.

Punches were thrown in the fight, which lasted several minutes and was broken up by teammates.

Stansbury hasn't made the facts public yet, but sources close to the team told ESPN.com that he's working off findings of an investigation that Bailey was the instigator of the scuffle because he didn't move his feet in the aisle while Sidney was trying to walk past him, antagonizing Sidney into a fight.