Garner supports Thornton

~ Coach expects player to be proved not guilty in rape allegation from 2003.

Southeast Missouri State coach Gary Garner said he and his program stand firmly behind Andrais Thornton, and Garner believes his starting junior forward will be exonerated.

Thornton was arrested Tuesday on felony charges of rape and sexual battery for an incident that allegedly took place more than two years ago in Colby, Kan., where Thornton was attending Colby Community College.

While the alleged rape was investigated at the time, charges in the case were never filed until a new prosecutor was elected in Thomas County, Kan.

"I, my staff and our team support Andrais 100 percent," Garner said following Wednesday's practice at the Show Me Center, in which Thornton participated, although he has been suspended from games indefinitely. "I think when this thing plays itself out, you'll find he is totally innocent of the charges.

"I have talked to a lot of people in Kansas, and when this incident was investigated, it was found there was no cause to go forward with it. He should not have to go through this."

According to police officials in Colby, Thornton and another man, Ontario McKee, are accused of raping two women the morning of Nov. 16, 2003, in their dorm rooms at Colby Community College, where Thornton and McKee were freshman basketball players.

Thornton, McKee and the two women all knew each other. Thornton and McKee are charged with raping just one of the woman.

Thornton is in his first season at Southeast after transferring from Missouri State-West Plains Community College. He is averaging 7.9 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. He leads the Redhawks in rebounding and ranks fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference.

"You always say all your kids are good kids, but from everybody I talked to, I don't think Andrais did anything," Garner said. "Since he's been here, he's been a young man of fine character."

After playing his freshman season at Colby Community College under coach Brian Ostermann, Thornton transferred to Missouri State-West Plains after Ostermann became the coach there.

"At the time we recruited Andrais, we knew nothing about this," Garner said. "Coach Ostermann didn't tell any of the 15 or 20 schools that recruited him about it; that's how strongly he felt that Andrais had done nothing wrong."

McKee, Thornton's former teammate, was arrested last week in San Angelo, Tex., and has since pleaded guilty to reduced charges.

Garner said Thornton is working with a lawyer in Colby and currently does not plan to plead guilty to reduced charges even if that opportunity presents itself.

"He is really intent on fighting this and clearing his name," Garner said.

In the meantime, Thornton has been suspended from competition, but he is out on bail and is being allowed to practice with the team.

"I told Gary that he could practice and continue to work out," Southeast athletic director Don Kaverman said. "We haven't kicked him off the team or taken him off scholarship, we have just suspended him from competition until this is resolved.

"We're hopeful that maybe there's a chance he could play again this year, but I don't know. We're all curious why this has come back around 2 1/2 years later."

Said Garner: "It's unfortunate that Andrais doesn't get to play, but my first concern is for his well being."

Without Thornton, Southeast (6-14, 3-11 OVC) will be down to seven available scholarship players -- two are out for the season with injuries -- when it tries to break a seven-game losing streak Saturday night as Tennessee-Martin visits the Show Me Center.

"We're hopeful, but we know there is a chance we won't have Andrais the rest of the season," Garner said.