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Creighton suspends injured star Maurice Watson from team activities

Creighton’s Maurice Watson Jr. is out for the season with an ACL injury. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
Creighton’s Maurice Watson Jr. is out for the season with an ACL injury. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

When Creighton hosts St. John’s next Tuesday night in its final home game of the season, the Bluejays’ most heralded player will not participate in senior day activities.

Injured point guard Maurice Watson has been suspended from all team-related activities for “alleged actions that are contrary to University policies and core values,” Creighton announced Wednesday.

The Omaha World-Herald reported late Wednesday night that police are investigating Watson in connection with an alleged sexual assault that took place in Omaha earlier this month. No charges have been filed, according to the World-Herald, and Watson has not been arrested.

“Creighton’s athletics program is based upon the Catholic, Jesuit mission of the university,” the school’s statement read. “Program officials, coaches and staff always strive to administer the program to the University’s highest values and standards.”

Watson has not played for Creighton since tearing an ACL against Xavier on Jan. 16. At the time of the injury, the senior was averaging 12.9 points and a national-best 8.5 assists per game.

Before Watson got hurt, Creighton was 18-1 and challenging Villanova for first place in the Big East, but the Bluejays are just 4-4 in his absence. He has been a regular presence at practices and games since the injury, cheering on his teammates.

“I’m devastated in the fact that I cannot finish out the season with my boys & that my college career is cut short during the best basketball I’ve ever played in my life,” Watson wrote in an Instagram post the day his MRI revealed the ACL tear.

“I’ve gotten to experience a lot of things in these 5 years[.] This is a sad time now, but God has a plan for me. My boys got my back & I will be on the sidelines all the way, even if a wheelchair!”

Now Watson won’t even be able to be on the sidelines anymore. Between his injury and his suspension, it’s a rough finish to a decorated college career.

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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!