College basketball

Men: Dismissed Hawkeye faces three felonies

By wire services
Published February 19, 2005

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Prosecutors filed tougher charges Friday against former Iowa basketball player Pierre Pierce in connection with an alleged assault on his former girlfriend last month.

The new charges include two counts of first-degree burglary, one count of assault with intent to commit sexual assault and one count of fourth-degree criminal mischief.

Police say Pierce, 21, choked his ex-girlfriend at her townhouse, threatened her with a knife and stripped her after an argument over her new boyfriend. Pierce also is accused of causing damage to her apartment and stealing a laptop and camera. The amended charges mean Pierce now is charged with three felonies, instead of one, and could face up to 56 years in jail if convicted. Arraignment is set for March 4.

GAMECOCKS FINED $5,000: South Carolina was fined $5,000 by the Southeastern Conference for violating league policy that prohibits spectators from going onto the court during or after a game. After South Carolina beat No.3 Kentucky 73-61 on Tuesday night, fans rushed the court to celebrate.

The fine was part of the SEC's new policy for football and basketball games. A second offense calls for a $25,000 fine; a third costs $50,000. The policy went into effect Dec.1, after a brawl involving players and fans at the Pacers-Pistons game Nov.19 was followed the next day by a brawl among players in the Clemson-South Carolina football game.

OHIO STATE: Forward Matt Sylvester was suspended by the school for one game for unsportsmanlike behavior toward a Michigan State fan last week. Ohio State did not specify what Sylvester did. He will miss today's game at Minnesota.

LOUISVILLE: Louisville guard Taquan Dean has mononucleosis, but will continue to play through the end of the season. The 6-foot-3 guard is Louisville's third-leading scorer at 13.8 points per game.

TENNESSEE: Scooter McFadgon, will miss today's game at Mississippi because of a bruised right thigh. He leads the Volunteers with 14.1 points a game.

TROY 85, JACKSONVILLE 73: Corey Hornsby scored a game-high 20 and had seven rebounds to lead Troy over Jacksonville. David Lee led Jacksonville with 16 points.

NO. 4 STANFORD 88, USC 62: Candice Wiggins, Susan Borchardt and Azella Perryman scored 14 apiece, and Stanford wrapped up its record-tying fifth consecutive Pac-10 championship. The victory was the 14th in a row for the Cardinal.

Eshaya Murphy topped the Trojans in scoring with 12 points.

NO. 12 DEPAUL 82, ST. LOUIS 64: Khara Smith scored 25 points and pulled down 14 rebounds to lead visiting DePaul past Saint Louis. The Blue Demons have won 16 of their last 17.

Mia Johnson led Saint Louis with 19. Heather King added 10.

[Last modified February 19, 2005, 00:58:04]