Men’s basketball player suspended

Spoonhour: “We are just extremely disappointed.”

Junior+guard+A.J.+Riley+had+11+points+in+the+Panthers+78-62+loss+to+Murray+State+on+March+2+in+Nashville%2C+Tenn.+

Jason Howell

Junior guard A.J. Riley had 11 points in the Panthers’ 78-62 loss to Murray State on March 2 in Nashville, Tenn.

Maher Kawash, Staff Reporter

Junior A.J. Riley has been suspended indefinitely by the Eastern men’s basketball team after he was arrested Wednesday.

The Charleston Police Department arrested Riley on an in-state warrant. He was charged with the unlawful delivery of cannabis and was released to the custody of the Coles County Sheriff’s Office pending 10 percent of a $7,500 bond.

“We’re going to wait for the legal process to move forward, and we are just extremely disappointed,” Eastern coach Jay Spoonhour said.

A warrant was issued for Riley’s arrest on Mar. 15. He was arrested Wednesday evening on 4th Street at Weller Hall.

While the legal process moves forward, Spoonhour relayed one message to the rest of his team.

“We talk about it all the time that we need to represent our team in the right way, and we just reaffirmed that to everyone on the team today,” Spoonhour said.

The 2015-16 season was Riley’s first with the Panthers after he transferred from John A. Logan College in 2015.

Riley played in all 30 games this past season while making 11 starts and averaging 10 points per game.

 

Maher Kawash can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].