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Compiled from Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 3, 2001
Recker likely out for season
IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Luke Recker, who has led No. 18 Iowa to first place in the Big Ten, probably will miss the rest of the regular season because of a broken right kneecap. The injury apparently happened in a 71-66 victory over Indiana last Saturday, John Albright, the Iowa team physician, said Friday.
Albright said the injury could keep Recker out for "as little as six weeks or possibly more."
There are four weeks left in the regular season, which ends March 4. According to Albright's timetable, Recker could be back for the Big Ten Tournament, which begins March 8. If Iowa makes the NCAA Tournament it would start play March 15-16.
Recker, a 6-foot-6 junior, leads Iowa with an 18.1 scoring average.
"Luke's loss is a big one," coach Steve Alford said. "His scoring and leadership on the court are why we're tied for first in the league standings."
Albright said the fracture likely was caused by a direct hit to the outside part of the kneecap, possibly from another player's knee. Recker played 35 minutes in the game, his first against the Hoosiers since leaving Indiana, and finished with 27 points and eight rebounds.
UNC FANS: About 6,000 fans took to the streets Thursday night and started two bonfires after No. 4 North Carolina's 85-83 victory over No. 2 Duke.
One car was overturned and fans jumped on another one, police spokeswoman Jane Cousins said. No injuries were reported. No charges had been filed, although Cousins said police were still investigating.
LIBERTY: Senior Maurice Watkins, who started 17 games at small forward, left school for personal reasons.
MARQUETTE 71, MEMPHIS 65: Cordell Henry had 21 points and four assists for the visiting Golden Eagles in a battle between division leaders.
Brian Wardle added 19 points and 10 rebounds for Marquette, and Oluoma Nnamka finished with 14 points. The loss snapped an eight-game winning streak for the Tigers.
OREGON 79, NO. 7 ARIZONA 67: Bryan Bracey scored 23 and the host Ducks took advantage of terrible shooting by the Wildcats.
Luke Ridnour added 17 points for the Ducks, who won consecutive games against Arizona for the first time since 1983.
ST. LOUIS 58, USF 42: The host Billikens, holding opponents to a league-low 36.2 percent shooting, had no problem with the Bulls, who shot 26.7 percent at Bauman-Eberhardt Athletic Center.
"They did a great job defensively and they played much harder than we did tonight," USF coach Jose Fernandez said. "We just didn't do a very good job in our halfcourt offense setting screens and moving without the ball."
Shannon Layne led the Bulls with 10 points.
INDIANA: Rachael Honegger was sentenced to six months of house arrest for bilking a grocery store of about $13,000 but can keep playing for the team.
The 22-year-old was sentenced to a three-year jail term, with all but six months of that suspended. Since pleading guilty to forgery in October, Honegger has been serving limited house arrest. She has started all 20 games this season.
Athletic director Clarence Doninger said the university has taken disciplinary action against Honegger but declined to elaborate.
UCONN: Senior forward Svetlana Abrosimova sprained her left ankle against Tennessee on Thursday. X-ray results were expected this morning.