Oklahoma State basketball player Darrel Williams convicted of rape

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STILLWATER, Okla., July 24 (UPI) -- A jury late Monday found Oklahoma State basketball player Darrel Williams guilty of three sexual assault charges and recommended prison time.

Williams was ordered held without bond in the Payne County jail pending formal sentencing Aug. 24 on two counts of rape by instrumentation and one count of sexual battery.

Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford was among the spectators in the courtroom when the verdict was read Monday night. The Oklahoman in Oklahoma City said some in the crowd shouted that Williams was innocent, and others burst into tears.

"My brother didn't do it," Williams' sister, Alicia, yelled as her brother was taken out of the courtroom.

Williams was accused by two women of sticking his hand down their pants at an off-campus party in 2010. The defense attacked the lack of physical evidence and the timeline provided by the victims, but in the end the jury appeared to be convinced by the adamant testimony of the women, The Oklahoman said.

Williams' conviction and the potential of prison time will have a serious effect on his once-promising basketball career. Williams, who stands 6-foot-8, scored 33 combined points and 25 rebounds in back-to-back games against Oklahoma and Missouri in 2011. He was also a member of the Big 12 All-Academic team.

Although Williams did not play last season, he remained part of the team and was considered one of the top practice players on the Cowboys roster.