RENO, Nev. — Three months after being kicked off Nevada's basketball team for his role at an off-campus Halloween party where three men were shot to death, Tyrone Hanson is trying to rebound at a school in Arkansas.

Coach Mark Fox dismissed Hanson from the team on Oct. 30, two days after the party at the Reno house where Hanson was severely beaten before the man charged with three counts of murder arrived.

Hanson, 20, of New York City, then transferred to Arkansas-Fort Smith Community College, where he is red-shirting and will play next season under former Nevada assistant Josh Newman.

In an interview published in Sunday's editions of the Reno Gazette-Journal, the 6-foot-6 sophomore said he often thinks about the three victims.

The shootings occurred after a male dancer bumped into Hanson and he was beaten by a group of large men. No one has been charged in the beating. The alleged shooter was accused of crashing the party with three friends after the beating.

"I think about them (victims) every day," Hanson told the Gazette-Journal. "The whole thing could've been avoided if I hadn't went to the party that night. I thought, 'Those people still could be living today.'"

Killed were Charles Coogan Kelly, 21, of Truckee, Calif.; University of Nevada, Reno senior Derek Kyle Jensen, 23, of Reno; and former UNR student Nathan Viljoen, 23, of Sparks.

Samisoni Taukitoku, 19, of Reno, has been charged with three counts of murder and remains jailed on $1 million bond. Taukitoku also was accused of putting a pistol to Hanson's head at the party.

"It was real scary. I thought that my life was being taken away," Hanson said. "He had a pistol to my head. All I could do was beg for my life. I told the dude with the gun, 'It's not that serious. It's not that serious for you to kill me.' I guess he bought into it."

Fox said Hanson was dismissed because he had earlier violated an unspecified team policy, not because of his role at the Halloween party.

Hanson told the Gazette-Journal that the earlier violation was testing positive for marijuana. He said he was tested after his return from summer break, but wasn't notified of the results until a week before the Halloween party.

"It was the first time (for a positive test). I learned my lesson from there. I was being stupid when I was back home, hanging out with my friends," Hanson said.

"I don't do it (marijuana) anymore. It was like, 'That's stupid.' There's no need for it. It only gets you in trouble."

Fox has said Hanson was specifically instructed not to go out that night. He declined further comment.

"We're not discussing that situation at all, ever again," the coach said.

Last season, Hanson played in 30 games, all in a reserve role for Nevada, averaging 1.6 points and 1 rebound in 8.1 minutes before game. He was one of nine returning letter-winners on the team.

Newman said Hanson understands that he made a mistake and needs to learn from it.

"(Hanson) has been a pleasure," Newman told the Gazette-Journal. "Junior college is so different than Division 1 because at this level we talk about second chances."

Hanson said Utah State, Providence, Cincinnati and St. John's are among schools that have contacted him since he left Nevada.

———

Information from: Reno Gazette-Journal, http://www.rgj.com