Missouri freshman basketball players Jakeenan Gant and D�Angelo Allen were arrested early Sunday morning on suspicion of third-degree assault � a misdemeanor � according to the Columbia Police Department�s public information report.

�We are aware of the situation involving Jakeenan Gant and D�Angelo Allen and have suspended them from team-related activities as we gather more information,� Coach Kim Anderson said in a statement. �We have high standards for the conduct of our student-athletes and expect much more from them as members of our program.�

A third man, Michael James Martin of Lone Jack, was also arrested with the two freshman forwards after police responded to the intersection of Eighth Street and Elm Street after hearing of an assault.

According to the incident report, three men said they were walking east on Elm Street when they were jumped by three or four black males. One of the alleged victims, age 20, said he was hit two or three times while trying to help a friend, age 21, who was on the ground being assaulted by the suspects. The other alleged victim, age 20, said he was also assaulted and noticed one of the suspects dropped his wallet during the incident. The dropped wallet belonged to Gant.

University of Missouri Police stopped Gant, Allen and Martin, who met the description of the suspects, at approximately 2 a.m. at 404 Kentucky Blvd. on the MU campus. They were released after being issued summonses and were not taken to Boone County Jail.

Third-degree assault is a Class A misdemeanor. Persons can be charged with third-degree assault for attempting to cause or recklessly causing physical injury to another individual but also for threatening another individual and making them apprehensive about immediate physical injury.

Persons found guilty can be sentenced to up to one year in jail or a fine of up to $1,000 or both.

Gant, a 6-foot-8 forward, was the Tigers� top recruit when he signed with Missouri last November. He was voted Mr. Basketball in the state of Georgia last season before moving to Missouri and finishing high school at School of the Osage. It was considered a coup for Anderson when he retained Gant as part of the recruiting class after being hired at the end of April, and he is expected to be an immediate contributor in the Tigers� frontcourt this season.

Allen, a 6-7 forward from Dallas, was the first recruit to sign with Missouri after Anderson was hired at the end of April. He signed with less fanfare than other members of Missouri�s freshman class but also has a chance to contribute on the wing or in the frontcourt, where Missouri appears shorthanded following the offseason dismissal of sophomore Torren Jones for an undisclosed violation of team rules.

This story was originally published online on Tuesday, September 16 at 8:32 p.m.