Eastern’s Lewis Cleared To Play Investigation Closed; Center Returns Friday

The NCAA and Eastern Washington University have cleared Melvin Lewis to play basketball after a five-month investigation into his academic status, EWU announced Wednesday.

The 6-foot-8, 295-pound center missed EWU’s first eight games while he was suspended by EWU pending the outcome of the NCAA investigation. He will play Friday when the Eagles (1-7) visit Gonzaga.

Lewis was named Big Sky Conference newcomer of the year last season, when he averaged 11.9 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.

The investigation began last summer when NCAA officials interviewed Lewis regarding a correspondence course for which he received credits in 1993 while working toward his associate of arts degree at the College of Sequoias in California.

After receiving the degree, Lewis transferred to EWU in the fall of 1994. Following a standard review of his credits, the school accepted the degree.

As the NCAA’s investigation progressed, EWU suspended Lewis last month and began its own review. The NCAA recently declared its case closed and exonerated Lewis after the College of Sequoias reevaluated Lewis’ degree and determined it was valid. The action also ended EWU’s investigation.

, DataTimes