Bubu Palo’s case will remain in district court after the Iowa Supreme Court denied a motion Friday to hear an appeal of a district judge’s decision to reinstate Palo to the ISU men’s basketball team.

Palo was granted a temporary stay by a district court judge Jan. 16 to return to the ISU men’s basketball team while his appeal of ISU President Steven Leath’s decision to kick him off the basketball team Aug. 30 plays out in court. The Iowa Attorney Generals Office, on behalf of the Iowa Board of Regents, asked the Iowa Supreme Court on Jan. 22 to grant it a stay of that ruling to keep Palo from playing during the appeal.

The Iowa Supreme Court denied that motion Jan. 24, keeping Palo on the team while his case is heard. He sat on the bench for the first time since last season Jan. 25 against Kansas State.

On Friday, the court denied the regents’ application for the Iowa Supreme Court to hear an appeal of the case, keeping it in district court. A date for when Palo’s case will be heard in district court has not yet been set. 

Palo remains an active member of the team, which next plays at 3 p.m. Saturday against No. 23 Oklahoma at Hilton Coliseum.