Associated Press
The college basketball notebook …
LOS ANGELES ó The NCAA has denied Alex Stepheson’s waiver petition for immediate eligibility to compete at 19th-ranked Southern California after transferring from No. 1 North Carolina.
The forward won’t be eligible at USC this season, the NCAA ruled Wednesday.
“Alex would have really helped our team this season and would have had a big impact in the Pac-10, but we will have to move beyond this now,” USC coach Tim Floyd said in a statement. “We were disappointed to learn about this decision, but I respect the NCAA process.”
USC said it will consult with Stepheson and his family on the next course of action.
Stepheson played the last two seasons at North Carolina, where he appeared in 75 games, making 52.7 percent of his shots. Last season, he averaged 4.3 points and 4.5 rebounds while leading the Tar Heels in rebounds six times.
Stepheson had been practicing with the Trojans, but he didn’t travel with them to the Puerto Rico Tip-Off that begins Thursday while awaiting the NCAA decision.
AREA
CLEMSON, S.C. ó Terrence Oglesby scored 15 points and Raymond Sykes added 14 to lead Clemson to a dominating 93-40 victory over Wofford on Wednesday night. The Tigers (4-0) outscored Wofford 51-17 in the second half after leading 42-23 at halftime.
Virginia 77, S. Florida 75
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. ó Sylven Landesberg nailed a layup with 13 seconds left and sank a free throw six seconds later to seal Virginia’s 77-75 victory over South Florida. Landesberg finished with 21 points for the Cavaliers (2-0).
Appalachian State 87, Charlotte 84, 2OT
BOONE ó Kellen Brand scored 23 points, Ryann Abraham hit four straight free throws in the final 12 seconds of the second overtime and Appalachian State outlasted Charlotte 87-84.
In a wild, sloppy game not decided until Javarris Barnett’s tying 3-pointer bounced off the rim at the buzzer, the Mountaineers (1-1) captured their home opener and gave the Southern Conference an early impressive non-conference win.
TOP 25
FORT WAYNE, Ind. ó Raymar Morgan scored eight of his 22 points during a decisive 13-0 run Wednesday night and No. 5 Michigan State (2-0) survived a scare from IPFW, beating the Mastodons 70-59.
No. 23 Villanova 77, Niagara 62
VILLANOVA, Pa. ó Scottie Reynolds scored 19 points, Corey Fisher had 15 and Reggie Redding 14 to lead Villanova (3-0) past pesky Niagara.
WOMEN
CHAPEL HILL ó Rashanda McCants scored 20 of her 27 points in the second half to rally No. 4 North Carolina to a 73-67 win over No. 23 Xavier on Wednesday night in the women’s Preseason NIT.
Cetera DeGraffenreid added 15 points and Italee Lucas scored 13 for UNC (4-0).
McCants’ second-half performance spoiled an extraordinary effort from Xavier center Ta’Shia Phillips, who scored 23 points and grabbed 25 rebounds in the loss.