Mbakwe returns to Golden Gophers

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Trevor Mbakwe has returned to practice for the Minnesota basketball team for the first time since he was sidelined by an assault accusation.

Mbakwe missed last season because of a felony assault charge stemming from an alleged incident while he was at Miami-Dade Community College in April 2009. The case dragged on for more than a year and Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi ruled the power forward could not play until it was resolved.

Mbakwe decided to enter a pretrial intervention program that will result in the charges being dropped upon completion of 100 hours of community service. The decision was not an admission of guilt.

Mbakwe practiced with the Gophers on Monday and says he's relieved to have the case behind him.