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Washington’s Malik Dime suspended for slapping student heckler in loss at Colorado

Washington v Gonzaga

SPOKANE, WA - DECEMBER 07: Malik Dime #10 of the Washington Huskies controls a rebound against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center on December 7, 2016 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeated Washington 98-71. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)

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Washington forward Malik Dime, who missed his ninth straight game with a broken finger on Thursday night, slapped a heckler in the student section during halftime of Washington’s loss at Colorado.

According to the student involved, Dime threatened the students as the team headed into the locker room for halftime before approaching them as the team returned to the floor.

“We were talking the usual game talk with the players like we usually do,” Dylan, a CU student, told BSN Denver. “Malik looked over at us at one point and said ‘I’m gonna come over there and slap the s*** out of you.’ We didn’t think that was real so we just laughed and then at the end of the half he came over to us and pretended like he was giving me a handshake and I reached out and he pulled back and slapped me in the face and the follow through hit the person sitting right next to me, which was Brian.”

The man that was slapped confirmed the incident to the Tacoma News Tribune, but added that “everything’s been made right.” Dime reportedly came over and apologized to the students after the game.

The Huskies announced on Friday evening that Dime has been suspended.

“Malik’s actions were inconsistent with his typical behavior,” Romar said in a statement Friday. “They were absolutely unacceptable, and did not represent the values of our team and the sportsmanship spirit of our conference.”

Dime apologized in the release, saying he was “caught up in the emotions of the game.”

“I made a very poor decision,” Dime said, “and did not represent my team, my University, and my family the way I wanted to. I am glad I had the chance to apologize in person to the students involved in the altercation, and I am prepared to accept the full consequences of my actions.”

Washington lost on Thursday, 81-66, falling to 9-15 on the season. Star point guard Markelle Fultz did not play in the game.