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Ben McCollum talks Iowa basketball at Big Ten Media Days on Oct. 9.
IOWA CITY — Iowa basketball player Tavion Banks was charged with public intoxication and disorderly conduct-fighting/violent behavior in the early hours of Sunday, Oct. 12.
According to a police report, Banks was seen in an altercation with the staff at ReUnion Brewery in Iowa City around 1:15 a.m. Banks allegedly smelled of ingested alcohol and had bloodshot watery eyes, and refused to take a preliminary breath test, according to the report.
Banks, one of six Drake transfers to follow head coach Ben McCollum to the Iowa men’s basketball program, was last season’s Missouri Valley Conference Sixth Man of the Year. Banks averaged 10.1 points and five rebounds per game on a Bulldogs’ team that went 31-4. All but one of his 34 appearances last season came off the bench, and he played roughly 20 minutes per contest.
Banks started his college career in the junior college ranks, spending two seasons at Northwest Florida State College before transferring to Drake. He spent one season with the Bulldogs before following McCollum to the University of Iowa.
The 6-foot-7 guard/forward is expected to be a part of Iowa’s regular rotation this season.
An Iowa athletics department spokesperson provided the following statement:
“The UI Athletics Department and men’s basketball program are aware of Tavion Banks’ citation over the weekend. He is subject to established university protocol regarding the UI Student-Athlete Code of Conduct, and the rules and regulations set for members of the men’s basketball program.”
Ryan Hansen contributed to this report.
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