Neither managed to carve out a major role on this year’s team upon their return.

Dillard, a 6-foot-5 junior from Gary, Indiana, was averaging 4.3 points and 1.3 rebounds per game in four games played.

Oft-suspended as a freshman in 2015-16, he became one of OSU’s most important players off the bench under Brad Underwood as a sophomore. After scoring 12 points in 19 minutes in OSU’s NCAA Tournament loss to Michigan last March, he appeared poised for a key role in the offseason.

But he wasn’t impactful upon return from his suspension, grabbing just five rebounds in 33 minutes played.

Dawson, a 6-foot-3 freshman from Miami, signed with the OSU program last year and remained with the Cowboys when Underwood left and Boynton became head coach. In five appearances this season, he averaged 10 minutes, 4.4 points and 1.6 assists per game.

Boynton said the decisions were made Wednesday night when he had a chance to meet with both players and speak to their parents.

“I’m a parent as well, so I certainly understand that people make mistakes,” Boynton said. “But we can’t ever compromise our core values. There are things we talk about daily in this program. Discipline is one of them and we will never compromise that for the sake of our program being as stable as possible, and unfortunately those kids haven’t met that expectation.”

Mark Cooper 918-581-8387 mark.cooper@tulsaworld.com Twitter: @mark_cooperjr