Four Cougars suspended

Ex-Wolverine Gaines arrested on assault, done for season

HOUSTON (AP) -- Houston men's basketball coach Ray McCallum has suspended sophomore guard Kevin Gaines for the rest of the season after his arrest in North Carolina, with three other players also disciplined.

McCallum on Sunday also suspended senior guard Dominic Smith, junior guard Marcus Oliver and junior forward Louis Truscott for violation of team rules. However, only Gaines will miss the remainder of the season.

Police in Greenville, N.C., said Gaines was arrested early Sunday on a charge of assault on a female near the East Carolina campus, where the Cougars played Saturday. Houston lost 63-46 to East Carolina.

Gaines's bond was increased to $10,350 at a court appearance Monday morning, up from $5,000, after it was learned that Gaines might be wanted on an unspecified charge in Michigan. He remains in the Pitt County jail.

"Just being on the road, we have certain rules the guys must follow and they weren't followed," McCallum told the Houston Chronicle in Monday's editions. "By them not being followed, we're taking actions and we're going to suspend them from the team at this time."

The coach said the four players won't be with the team when it departed later Monday for Tuesday's game in Tampa, Fla., against South Florida.

Gaines was arrested at 2:17 a.m. after he was accused of assaulting a Greenville woman outside a nightclub, said police officer Danny Mills in the North Carolina city.

Mills said officers responded to a call of a stolen vehicle in progress and arrested Rondell Christopher Curtis of Greenville. Mills said Curtis was charged with larceny from a stolen vehicle and possession of stolen goods and was held on a $35,000 bond.

The officer said that Gaines, who was with Curtis, allegedly assaulted the woman shortly after Curtis' arrest.

The Cougars did not specify why the other players were suspended, saying only that a "violation of team rules was involved."

The coach said Smith, Truscott and Oliver must undergo "administrative program consultation' before returning to the team. "It's very disappointing," said McCallum. "Guys have worked hard and done a good job in a lot of areas. It's unfortunate guys will lose their focus and concentration on the important things and affect the team this way. When these actions take place, we address them and when you're dealing with young people you hope they learn from them."

Authorities told the newspaper that Gaines, a transfer from Michigan, had been charged in connection with driving under the influence while there, but that charge was later dropped. The Las Vegas native transferred to UH following his freshman season and played in his first game for the Cougars on Dec. 14.

"We're going to support him and get him the help he needs to focus on what's important in life," said McCallum. "We're very supportive of Kevin. The other three young men will be evaluated through our programs here on campus."

The Cougars, 15-12 overall and 8-6 in Conference USA play, have been attempting to earn their first postseason berth since 1993. Now the Cougars will be left with eight players, only five of whom are on scholarship.

"We will move on and prepare for South Florida with the players we have," the coach said.

 

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