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Michigan State Center Nix Gets Community Service

EAST LANSING (WWJ/AP) - Michigan State center Derrick Nix has been fined and ordered to perform community service for an impaired driving case that stemmed from an April traffic stop.

Nix was sentenced Thursday in an East Lansing courtroom to 24 hours of community service and $853 in fines and costs. He also must attend classes on substance abuse and a panel on the impact of drunken driving on victims. He earlier pleaded guilty to impaired driving. A marijuana possession charge was dropped.

Nix averaged 8.1 points this past season. He would be the lone senior returning to the Spartans next season.

Nix was suspended from the basketball team after his arrest April 3. He was pulled over shortly around 12:30 a.m. after making a left turn at a red light from Lake Lansing Road onto Abbot Road in East Lansing.

According to a police report, officers administered two field sobriety tests, both of which Nix failed. The report says Nix was unable to maintain his balance for the required amount of time and skipped both 88 and 80 when asked to count backwards from 91 to 78. Officers also found .6 grams of marijuana on Nix and he admitted to smoking earlier in the night, according to the report.

Nix was apologetic afterward, calling the situation embarrassing.

Michigan coach Tom Izzo reinstated him following his plea.

TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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