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Gonzaga players suspended following drug arrest

ESPN.com news services

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Gonzaga players Josh Heytvelt and Theo Davis have been indefinitely suspended from the team after their arrest Friday night for investigation of drug possession, ESPN.com's Andy Katz reported.

A Gonzaga spokesperson told Katz that Gonzaga coach Mark Few is disappointed and shocked by the arrest, in which police in Cheney, Wash., said they found marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms in a car in which the two players were riding.

Both players have told Gonzaga officials they are innocent.

However, Gonzaga has suspended both indefinitely, so Heytvelt and Davis will not play Saturday against Saint Mary's or on Monday against Santa Clara, Katz reported.

Both players were booked into Spokane County Jail for investigation of drug possession, The Associated Press reported.

Cheney Police Commander Rick Campbell said the amount of marijuana was only enough for a misdemeanor, but that possession of mushrooms is a felony. Police said they pulled the car over because its tail lights were not working. Campbell said officers smelled marijuana and searched the car, and the players were cooperative.





"It was close to midnight. They needed to have their lights on," Campbell said. Heytvelt, a 6-foot-11 sophomore forward, is averaging 15.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game and has been considered a frontrunner for West Coast Conference player of the year. Davis, a 6-9 freshman, is red-shirting this season undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder to repair ligament damage.



From a basketball perspective, the timing is poor for Gonzaga (17-8, 7-2 WCC). The Bulldogs are tied for first with Santa Clara atop the WCC and saw the next two games as a chance to clinch the regular-season conference title. Gonzaga won its previous meeting with Santa Clara.