Illinois guard Jaylon Tate arrested for domestic battery

Illinois guard Jaylon Tate was arrested early Saturday on domestic battery charges.

Illinois guard Jaylon Tate was arrested early Saturday on domestic battery charges, the Chicago Tribunereports.

Tate has been indefinitely suspended from the team, the school announced. The Tribune reports Tate was being held at the Champaign County Jail as of Saturday morning.

“It is important that we take time to fully understand the events of (Friday) evening before passing judgement," the school’s statement, released by head coach John Groce and athletic director Josh Whitman read. "We condemn domestic violence in all its forms and will move swiftly and decisively if these allegations are substantiated."

Tate was arrested hours after Illinois lost to Purdue in the Big Ten Tournament, ending the team’s season. The Champaign News-Gazette reports Tate allegedly punched his girlfriend in the face at an apartment and will remain in jail until at least Sunday morning.

Tate is the third member of the Illinois basketball team to be arrested and suspended from the program this season. In August, forward Darius Paul was arrested during a team trip to France and subsequently dismissed from the team. On Feb. 20, forward Leron Black was arrested at a Champaign night club after allegedly pulling a knife on a security guard.

Tate, a junior guard, averaged 1.9 points per game this season.