AUBURN, Ala. - The NCAA claims Auburn representatives provided a car for the mother of a high school player and arranged six wire payments ranging from $200 to $2,000 to another prospect in hopes of signing them.
The NCAA's Notice of Allegations, dated Sept. 2 and released to the Associated Press, details allegations involving the recruitment of the prep athletes, previously identified as Chadd Moore of Huntsville and Jackie Butler of McComb, Miss. Both signed with other schools.
Moore and Butler played AAU basketball for coach Mark Komara of Huntsville, whom the NCAA alleges was a representative of Auburn and was involved in improper recruitment. Komara has said he was not a representative of Auburn and denied the NCAA allegations.
Auburn has denied that money or a car were offered to the athletes. Auburn officials said that only "minor mistakes" involving campus visits were made and that they will "propose appropriate penalties." The school makes its formal case to the NCAA Committee on Infractions on Feb. 13 in Phoenix, Ariz.
MICHIGAN ST.: Freshman point guard Brandon Cotton is off the team and might transfer.
"I don't plan on him being back as a player," coach Tom Izzo said, adding that the decision to part ways was mutual.
Thursday's games
NO. 3 ARIZONA 95, CAL 75: Hassan Adams had 19 points and nine rebounds for the host Wildcats (10-1), who haven't lost since a 78-77 decision against Florida on Nov. 28.
The victory, the Wildcats' 13th in the last 14 against the Golden Bears, tied Lute Olson (509-148) with Fred Enke (509-324) for the most career wins by an Arizona coach.
NO. 4 STANFORD 63, ARIZ. ST. 62: On a Josh Childress tip-in with six seconds left the visiting Cardinal survive. Matt Lottich led all scorers with 18 for Stanford.
NO. 16 GONZAGA 87, PEPPERDINE 70: Cory Violette had 20 points, one of four in double figures for the visiting Bulldogs. Glen McGowan scored 20 for the Waves. The win was the fourth straight for the Bulldogs while the Waves lost their fifth in a row - their longest losing streak since the 1996-97 season.
Women
NO. 1 DUKE 77, GA. TECH 45: Alana Beard had 12 of her 17 points during a dominating first half, and Monique Currie and Brittany Hunter added 14 apiece for the visiting Blue Devils. Duke won its 46th consecutive game in the ACC, including the league tournament.
NO. 5 TENNESSEE 83, ARKANSAS 44: Brittany Jackson scored 14, and Tasha Butts added 12 for the Vols, who raced to a 24-9 lead with 6:53 to go in the first half. They extended their SEC home-winning streak to 48.
NO. 6 MINNESOTA 72, NORTHWESTERN 40: Lindsay Whalen had 21 points and six assists and Janel McCarville scored 15 for the visiting Golden Gophers (13-0).
Minnesota is off to its best start in history.
NO. 7 STANFORD 60, ARIZ. ST. 46: Nicole Powell scored 11 straight in the second half and finished with 29 and nine rebounds for the host Cardinal, which remained undefeated in Pac-10 play.
NO. 8 LA. TECH 110, NEVADA 47: Trina Frierson scored 20 to lead the Techsters, who increased their winning streak to 152 against unranked opponents and to 87 against conference opponents in home games.
NO. 9 PENN ST. 92, IOWA 64: Kelly Mazzante scored 30 for the host Nittany Lions, who scored the last eight of the first half, then opened the second with an 8-2 run to go up 48-28.
NO. 10 PURDUE 77, NO. 23 MICH. ST. 67: Shereka Wright made 10 of her first 12 shots and had a season-high 28 points to lead the visiting Boilermakers.
NO. 12 GEORGIA 88, MISS. ST. 70: Christi Thomas scored 27 and had 15 rebounds for the host Bulldogs. Thomas had a double double at about five minutes before halftime when she scored her 18th point off her 10th rebound on a putback. In Georgia news, sophomore forward Marquita Driskell left the school. She didn't play for the team because of an unspecified medical condition.
NO. 13 UNC 58, N.C. ST. 57: La'Tangela Atkinson scored from underneath the basket with 3.9 seconds left for the visiting Tar Heels. Atkinson finished with 13 points for North Carolina.
ILLINOIS 52, NO. 22 OHIO ST. 51: The Buckeyes rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit and had the ball with six seconds to go, but failed to get off a final shot. They've won only once in five road games.
State
FLORIDA ST. 68, CLEMSON 61: Lauren Bradley scored 15 and Shante Williams added 14 and 10 rebounds for the visiting Seminoles, who dominated the inside, outscoring Clemson 38-22. Bradley was 7-for-9 from the field, and Williams had six assists and five steals.
MISSISSIPPI 79, FLORIDA 72: Genice Terry scored 26 for the host Rebels, who had four players in double figures. Center Vanessa Hayden led Florida with 22 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks.
