Football
Associated Press 18y

NMSU's Nelson reinstated after robbery allegations

LAS CRUCES, N.M. -- New Mexico State forward Tyrone Nelson
was reinstated to the basketball team Tuesday, just days after he
he had been suspended pending an investigation into allegations
that he robbed a pizza delivery man.

A committee that looks into allegations of student-athlete
misconduct met Monday and recommended that athletic director
McKinley Boston reinstate Nelson immediately.

"On a review of the reports, the committee felt that there was
no evidence that Tyrone [Nelson] was involved in the crimes
committed and thus recommended to Dr. Boston that Nelson be
reinstated to the men's basketball program," said the committee's
chairman, Charley Johnson.

NMSU head coach Reggie Theus said he was pleased with the
decision.

"We are very happy to have Tyrone back,'' he said. "It is
important for people to know that at no point was Tyrone not a part
of our team.''

Nelson will practice with the team this week but will not
accompany the Aggies to Vancouver, British Columbia, for a
four-game exhibition tour Sept. 2-4. Boston said that was "an
administrative decision, independent of the committee's
recommendation to fully reinstate.''

"This is an important year for the program and although Tyrone
will be missed on the Canada trip, the purpose of the trip is more
about getting our guys that did not play together last year a
chance to be on the court in a competitive game,'' Theus said.
"Tyrone is a first team All-WAC performer and we know about what
he can do for us already.''

Nelson, a first team All-Western Athletic Conference player last
year, averaged a team-high 17.8 points and 8.7 rebounds during the
2005-06 season.

Las Cruces police arrested Nelson, 21, of Hempstead, Texas, at a
Las Cruces mall Thursday after the pizza delivery man identified
him as a suspect in Tuesday's robbery.

Nelson was charged with robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery
and was released on bond. The team suspended him on Friday for 72
hours pending a university investigation.

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