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One of Michigan State's most prominent former basketball players has been charged with sexual assault.
Mateen Cleaves, hero of Tom Izzo's lone national championship team, allegedly assaulted a 24-year-old woman last September. Cleaves faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on charges of assault with intent to commit criminal sexual penetration,*unlawful imprisonment, second-degree criminal sexual conduct, and two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.
The alleged incident took place following a charity golf tournament in Michigan, MLive.com reported. Prosecutors told the site that the alleged victim met Cleaves that day, went out for drinks with him and her boyfriend that evening and then got into the car with Cleaves afterward, thinking he would take her back to the golf club, while her boyfriend drove a friend home.
Cleaves instead allegedly took the victim to a motel, where prosecutors claim he held her in a room against her will and sexually assaulted her. The alleged victim eventually escape from the room, prosecutors claim, and received help from a woman in a nearby room.
Cleaves is a former Big Ten player of the year who starred on Michigan State's 2000 national title team. He was drafted by the Detroit Pistons and later played for four other NBA franchises before transitioning into a second career as a television analyst.*
The charges against Cleaves come as Michigan State is preparing to try to capture Izzo's second national championship. The Spartans are the No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament's Midwest Region and open play Friday against Middle Tennessee.
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Mateen Cleaves, hero of Tom Izzo's lone national championship team, allegedly assaulted a 24-year-old woman last September. Cleaves faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on charges of assault with intent to commit criminal sexual penetration,*unlawful imprisonment, second-degree criminal sexual conduct, and two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct.
The alleged incident took place following a charity golf tournament in Michigan, MLive.com reported. Prosecutors told the site that the alleged victim met Cleaves that day, went out for drinks with him and her boyfriend that evening and then got into the car with Cleaves afterward, thinking he would take her back to the golf club, while her boyfriend drove a friend home.
Cleaves instead allegedly took the victim to a motel, where prosecutors claim he held her in a room against her will and sexually assaulted her. The alleged victim eventually escape from the room, prosecutors claim, and received help from a woman in a nearby room.
Cleaves is a former Big Ten player of the year who starred on Michigan State's 2000 national title team. He was drafted by the Detroit Pistons and later played for four other NBA franchises before transitioning into a second career as a television analyst.*
The charges against Cleaves come as Michigan State is preparing to try to capture Izzo's second national championship. The Spartans are the No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament's Midwest Region and open play Friday against Middle Tennessee.
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!Follow @JeffEisenberg