Iowa State men’s basketball: Matt Thomas suspended after OWI

Matt Thomas was arrested for OWI on late Friday night, becoming the second Iowa State player to be charged with the crime in this offseason.

The Des Moines Register (via College Basketball Talk) reported that Thomas was stopped close to 2:00 AM Central time for a broken brake light and was cited for both incidents.

"The 19-year-old Thomas was charged with first offense OWI early Saturday morning, according to a report filed by Ames police. Thomas was stopped by Ames police at 1:49 a.m. Saturday in Ames for having an improper break light, for which Thomas was also cited."

Abdel Nader was the other athlete who was charged with an OWI. Both players are suspended indefinitely.

Both players were also caught underage. Thomas is just 19 and Nader doesn’t turn 21 until September.

There’s no excuse for drinking and driving and both players will be punished for their actions. The only question is how long will their suspensions be?

This should be common knowledge, but you can’t stop some things in college culture. One of the biggest influences that 18 and 19 year olds will face heading into their first moments on their own — if they haven’t been influenced by it already — is alcohol.

I’m not going to sit here and preach that these kids are wrong for drinking, nor should the majority of everyone else be that hypocritical. It’s their life, it’s their decision, they can do whatever they hell they want.

But if you’re going to make that decision to pop open the booze, please find an alternative way to get home or to your next destination without putting yourself behind the wheel.