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Thursday, March 9, 2000
Alexander scheduled
to play todayRealAudio: Click here
By Pat Bigold
Star-BulletinFRESNO, Calif. -- Marquette Alexander, the University of Hawaii's leading scorer and rebounder, is expected to play in today's Western Athletic Conference tournament quarterfinal matchup with Southern Methodist.
But WAC commissioner Karl Benson said last night he is still looking into circumstances surrounding Saturday's incident in which Alexander fought with a fan at Selland Arena. Benson said he reserves the right to take action against the Rainbow player.
That action, though unlikely to occur today, could include suspension.
"The fact remains that a WAC student-athlete got involved in an incident with a fan and we have to address that," said Benson.
He said it is unlikely he would rule Alexander out of today's game on such short notice.
"That would not be logical," said Benson.
He said his information could also lead him to conclude that there were mitigating circumstances to Alexander's behavior.
Benson said he is collecting information from investigations being conducted by both Fresno State campus police and Fresno city police.
He said that he is trying to determine if Alexander committed a violation of the WAC's sportsmanship code when he got into a fist fight with 28-year-old Glenn Douglas, a Fresno State fan who taunted Alexander during Hawaii's 79-69 loss to the Bulldogs on Saturday.
Should Hawaii lose today, Alexander would no longer be considered a WAC student-athlete.
But Benson said that even though that would mean he could not suspend Alexander, he would follow through with the investigation.
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
