The Morning Dish – Saturday, February 12th
Horton Has History of Abuse: Michigan guard Daniel Horton has been suspended from the Wolverine basketball team for an incident stemming from a domestic abuse charge. Now it has been revealed that the woman involved in the incident, Horton’s girlfriend Deborah Johnson, had gone to the police several times to report Horton, although she never wanted to press charges. That determination, however, is not up to the victim in this type of case but up to the prosecutor’s office. Police said Johnson told them “that she had been abused several times during their dating relationship, where Horton primarily pushed” her, and that there “were also occasions where he drug her across the floor, and had once slammed her head against a wall.”
Jackson State Guard Suspended for Punch: Charles White, a freshman point guard on the Jackson State basketball team, has been suspended three games by the Southwestern Athletic Conference for punching an opposing player. White was ejected after punching Southern’s Chris Alexander late in the first half of Monday’s game at Baton Rouge. White’s punch wasn’t just one of those swing-and-miss jobs, he connected on the face and knocked Alexander down. White faced a one-game suspension mandated by the NCAA, but the SWAC added two games to the punishment.
Sacramento State’s Coach Suspended: Jerome Jenkins has been suspended one game for his comments about poor officiating in a recent Big Sky Conference game. In a game against Weber State, the contest was tied at 55-55 with 2.5 seconds left when Weber State’s Coric Riggs stole the ball from Sacramento State’s Jason Harris and raced three quarters of the court to score as the buzzer sounded. The officials counted the basket, sparking a vehement protest from Jenkins and his bench, who argued that the shot came after time expired. Without the presence of an instant replay, the argument grew so heated that all three of the officials had to rush off the court.
St. Louis’ Top Scorer Leaves Team: Senior Reggie Bryant has left the Billiken basketball program for an undetermined amount of time to attend to some family issues, according to Coach Brad Soderberg. Bryant’s brother is hospitalized in his hometown of Baltimore. In 19 games this season, Bryant has scored 13.8 points despite shooting just 38 percent (87-of-230). He is also the club’s top 3-point threat, connecting on 34 percent (42-of-122) of his attempts from the arc.
Georgia’s Felton receives reprimand: Georgia coach Dennis Felton was reprimanded by Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive on Friday for his criticism of South Carolina forward Carlos Powell. On his radio show Sunday, Felton called Powell “the biggest faker and flopper. He’s fraudulent.” Powell was struck in the left eye twice during South Carolina’s 60-53 victory at Georgia on Feb. 5. Both times he wound up on the floor, apparently in pain. Felton said Powell’s reaction was a “kind of effort in manipulating” and said it “is almost … cheating.”
MAC Says Shot Shouldn’t Have Counted: Ball State can at least take solace in that their loss may serve the greater good. Mid-American Conference commissioner Rick Chryst hopes to have courtside video monitors at all league games in the aftermath of a game-winning shot by Miami of Ohio that came after the final buzzer to beat Ball State. On Wednesday night in Muncie, Ind., Miami’s Nathan Peavy grabbed a rebound in the foul lane and dropped in an 8-foot shot as time expired, giving the RedHawks a 54-52 win. Referee Tom Clark ruled that Peavy’s basket was good, although officials were unable to review the play at the scorer’s table because the game was not televised. On Friday, Chryst said that Peavy’s shot shouldn’t have counted and the game should have gone to overtime. However, Miami’s win will stand.
Pierce’s Attorney Seeks Dismissal of Felony: The attorney for Pierre Pierce filed a motion Friday seeking the dismissal of a burglary charge against the former Iowa basketball player. Pierce, 21, was arraigned this week on charges of burglary, domestic abuse assault, assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, false imprisonment and criminal mischief. The charges stem from a Jan. 27 incident at a woman’s home in West Des Moines. Pierce has said the woman was his girlfriend. The most serious charge is first-degree burglary, a felony that carries a maximum penalty of up to 25 years upon conviction.
Dotson is Facing Life in Prison: A judge on Friday set a June trial date for the former Baylor University basketball player charged with gunning down his teammate. Carlton Dotson, 22, will go to trial June 13, state District Judge George Allen said Friday during an informal meeting with prosecutors and defense attorneys. Dotson faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of killing Patrick Dennehy, 21, who was missing six weeks before his body was found in July 2003 in a field a few miles from Baylor’s campus. Dennehy had been shot twice in the head, according to autopsy reports.
