Rev. Jesse Jackson among dozens gathered in support of ex-OSU basketball player Darrell Williams

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) -- Dozens of people packed a Stillwater Baptist church Thursday night to support a former Oklahoma State University basketball player awaiting sentencing for a rape conviction.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson joined family members of Darrell Williams, who was convicted last month of groping two women and reaching inside their pants without their consent at a house party. Some in attendance wore orange T-shirts exclaiming, "Free Darrell."

Williams will be sentenced Friday for rape by instrumentation. No prison time was recommended for a sexual battery count.

Since his conviction, there has been a groundswell of support for Williams.

The player's family insists Williams, who is black, is innocent -- the victim of misidentification by the women and of racial profiling by a jury of 11 whites and one Asian member.