Don’t confuse basketball lingo and statistics with the real world. Maybe someone should have explained that to Des Moines, Iowa's Drake University basketball star Rayvonte Rice.

You see for the Drake hoops team, Rice is a thief, and a good one at that.  Rice led Drake in steals on the basketball court his freshman season. But stealing off the court has Rice and teammate Kurt Alexander in trouble.

Rice and Alexander were arrested last Wednesday evening and charged with fifth-degree theft. The incident occurred at Scheels Sporting Goods. Fifth-degree theft is a simple misdemeanor, classified as theft of less than $200.

Both players were arrested, charged, and released on citation to appear at a later date.

The university admitted that two members of the men’s basketball team face allegations of petty shoplifting, and that the decision made by these young men is not reflective of the expectations of character and responsibility to which they hold all student-athletes.

The student-athletes have been suspended immediately from all team activities pending the continuation of the legal process before making further comment or determining the length of suspension, and any further action on the matter. He might have to very well take an online shoplifting class.

Rice led Drake in scoring, rebounds, steals, and blocked shots during the 2010-11 season, his first with the Bulldogs. Kurt Alexander saw action in all 31 games last season and averaged about 5.6 points per game last year.

Stealing the basketball from your opponent in a game – good thing. Stealing a basketball from a store – bad thing. Is it really that difficult?