Cleaves arrested for MIP just hours after big victory

Cleaves, 20, and Hutson, 19, were released Wednesday afternoon on personal recognizance bonds, East Lansing police Lt. Lewis Muhn said.

Cleaves, a sophomore, was charged with being a minor in possession of alcohol, refusing a breath test and a seat belt violation. Hutson was charged with "zero tolerance," a charge for minors with a blood-alcohol reading of at least .02 percent. A blood-alcohol level of .10 percent is considered legally drunk in Michigan.

East Lansing police said they were called to a disturbance at an apartment complex around 4:45 a.m.

MARGARET MYERS/Daily Michigan State guard Mateen Cleaves was arrested on alcohol charges relating to a post-game celebration after State's 80-75 victory over Michigan

Muhn said that when police arrived they found the two players in a car, although he could not say whether the car was in motion. Muhn said police are investigating the incident to see if other charges are warranted. The players have 10 days to appear in 54-B District Court to answer the charges.

Cleaves, one of 11 finalists for the Oscar Robertson Award sponsored by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association and Frontier Communications, said he was embarrassed about the incident, saying he used bad judgment.

"I feel I let my family down, my team down and MSU down," Cleaves said. "Whatever consequences I have to face from my coach I agree with them because I'm a leader on the team."

Coach Tom Izzo said the school was still gathering information and had not made any decisions on what punishments, if any, to give the players.

"I can't tell you how embarrassed I am," Izzo said. "Based on the facts, there will be some consequences that are appropriate with what happened."

Cleaves and Izzo did not take any questions from reporters and did not elaborate on the incident. A spokesperson for the athletic department said that no team rules were violated and that the players did not have a curfew after the game.

Terry Denbow, a spokesman for Michigan State, said players and team officials talk about appropriate behavior often and did so after the Michigan game.

"The team, the players and the coaching staff were not given much time to enjoy (the win over Michigan) and they deserved more," Denbow said.

02-19-98