BY MIKE DeCOURCY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Ruben Patterson

The NCAA termed Ruben Patterson's use of summer employer Bobby Carter's condominium and Carter's co-signature on an auto loan ''serious violations of NCAA legislation'' in handing a 14-game suspension to the UC forward.

According to a letter from the NCAA's Kevin Fite to UC's compliance coordinator Heather Lyke, the suspension for one half of the season was reached by calculating a percentage of the season to be missed for each of several violations:

• Ten percent of the season for long-distance phone calls made from the condominium and the UC campus, using head coach Bob Huggins' long distance access code, which Patterson said he received from other UC team members.

• Twenty percent for his stay at the condo and the co-signature on the loan.

• Fifteen percent for Patterson accepting use of a Jeep Cherokee for 19 days from former Bengals receiver Tim McGee, now a player agent.

  Although the NCAA found that McGee and Patterson had a preexisting relationship, dating back to Patterson's childhood in Cleveland, he was punished because UC had expressed concern about McGee's position as an agent and warned Patterson not to accept use of a car from him.

• Five percent for room and board in a UC dorm during the summer of 1996 without performing all of the required work in exchange. Patterson will not be able to return until the Jan. 18 game against Louisville.

UC is appealing the ruling, which UC Athletic Director Bob Goin termed ''extremely harsh,'' and expects to have a decision from the NCAA's eligibility appeals committee next week.

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