BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSU forward Jaime Lloreda will miss Saturday's game at Alabama because he was suspended by the Southeastern Conference for striking Florida's Brett Nelson in a game Tuesday night.

The SEC announced the one-game suspension Friday.

"This action was the result of a flagrant, unsportsmanlike act which occurred during the second half of the LSU-Florida game," the SEC news release said.

LSU coach John Brady had already decided that Lloreda would not start against Alabama as punishment. He said Friday he supports the stiffer punishment.

Reports have differed between Lloredo using his fist or elbow to hit Nelson.

"We imposed what we thought was in order to teach Jaime a lesson and although the league agreed, they wanted to take it a step further. I support the commissioner and want what is best for our league,'' Brady said in a news release.

Brady said he also had Lloreda compose a letter of apology to Nelson, which was faxed to Florida, SEC commissioner Mike Slive and SEC coordinator of officials John Gutherie.

Lloreda struck Nelson late in the Tigers' 70-53 loss to the Gators at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Brady watched film of the play Wednesday and Thursday and decided to discipline Lloreda.

The Tigers (12-6, 1-5 SEC) have lost four straight heading into their game at Alabama. The Crimson Tide (No. 21 ESPN/USA Today, No. 23 AP) have dropped three straight and four of five.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.