Mississippi State University police detectives are searching for a male suspect in the assault of a student with a cowbell amid the post-game celebration at last Saturday’s Egg Bowl game against arch-rival Ole Miss,the Starkville Daily News reports.

MSU Police Department Sgt. Brad Massey said the male victim, 21, whose name is not being released amid concerns for his continued safety, suffered a severe head wound after the suspect struck him in the head with a cowbell.

The victim and the suspect — also believed to be an MSU student — were in the student section bleachers in the north end zone at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field near the northwest gate, Massey said Wednesday.

The victim had some friends from Ole Miss with him in the stands, and, after MSU won the football game, some verbal sparring occurred with the suspect that turned violent, culminating in the victim being struck with the cowbell, Massey said.

“It split his head open pretty badly,” said Massey, who would not comment on whether alcohol may have played a role in the incident.

The victim was taken by ambulance to Oktibbeha County Hospital, where he was treated and released late Saturday night, Massey said. The suspect, however, has yet to be identified, he said.

The suspect is described as a college-age white male who is 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighs between 150 and 160 pounds and has very dark brown or black hair. The suspect was wearing a dark green Under Armour MSU hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans, according to the description given to Massey by the victim.

With most Bulldog fans remaining in the stands after the game ended, it is believed that several people may have witnessed the assault, Massey said in a report in the Starkville Daily News.

“Everybody stayed in the stands and celebrated the victory, so somebody saw what happened,” said Massey.

Anyone who have witnessed the assault or have information about the incident is encouraged to call the MSU Police Department at 325-2121 or Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 1-800-530-7151.

All Crime Stoppers tips are confidential and could result in a reward of up to $1,000 for the caller if the tip leads to an arrest in the assault case or any felony crime.

The suspect, once arrested, faces an aggravated assault charge, which is a felony offense and, upon conviction, carries a penalty of anywhere from 1 to 20 years in prison under state law, Massey said.