Baylor senior co-captains R.T. Guinn and Terrance Thomas, who were previously declared academically ineligible, have been reinstated to the team and were available for Saturday night’s game against Texas Tech.
Baylor said the NCAA restored the eligibility after a request by the school. They were declared ineligible Jan. 3, leaving the Bears with just five scholarship players.
Guinn and Thomas failed to meet new academic standards in which a student must pass at least two classes to be eligible in the second semester.
Cotton transfers
Former Michigan State freshman point guard Brandon Cotton is transferring to Detroit Mercy after playing in only three games because of a stress fracture in his foot, according to ESPN.com.
Cotton, a McDonald’s All-American who was expected to be the Spartans’ starting point guard, will receive a full release from Michigan State. He’ll be eligible to play by midseason in 2004-05. Cotton is in class and will practice the rest of the season.
RESULTS, SATURDAY’S SYNOPSIS
California 61 at #3 Stanford 68
Matt Lottich scored 15 points and Josh Childress had 10 points and 10 rebounds as Cardinal (14-0, 5-0 Pac-10) remained unbeaten by holding off Bears (6-8, 2-3) in 2nd half.
#6 St. Joseph’s 81 at Xavier 73
Delonte West made every shot he took–12 from field, 6 from line–for 33 points and Hawks (15-0, 5-0 Atlantic 10) extended best start in school history.
#7 Arizona 97 at UCLA 72
Channing Frye tied career high with 26 points and Wildcats (11-3, 3-2), ending 2-game losing streak, easily handed Bruins (9-4, 5-1) 1st Pac-10 loss.
Tulane 58 at #8 Louisville 79
Luke Whitehead scored 16 points and Taquan Dean added 15 as Cardinals (13-1, 4-0 C-USA) forced 23 turnovers in victory over Green Wave (6-7, 0-3).
TCU 57 at #10 Cincinnati 85
Jason Maxiell returned from right ankle injury early in game and gave unbeaten Bearcats (13-0, 4-0 C-USA) the spark needed to beat Horned Frogs (6-9, 2-2).
Missouri 79 at #11 Oklahoma 75
Rickey Paulding scored 9 of his 23 points in OT and Arthur Johnson added 16 points and 11 rebounds as Tigers (7-6, 2-1 Big 12) handed Sooners (10-3, 0-2) 3rd loss in row.
Maryland at 71 #12 Georgia Tech 81
Will Bynum, a transfer from Arizona, scored career-high 25 points and Yellow Jackets (14-2, 2-1) dominated final 10 minutes to pull away for ACC win over Terrapins (10-4, 1-2).
Rutgers 49 at #13 Pittsburgh 59
Jaron Brown scored 19 points and hit only two 3-pointers for Panthers (18-0, 4-0 Big East) to key late-game 16-2 run that beat Scarlet Knights (9-5, 1-3).
#14 Kansas 71 at Texas A&M 65
Keith Langford scored 21 points and Jayhawks (11-2, 3-0 Big 12) held on to extend winning streak to season-high 5 games and improve to 9-0 vs. Aggies (7-6, 0-2).
#15 Florida 72 at #23 Vanderbilt 86
Matt Freije scored 23 points, Mario Moore added 21 and Commodores (13-2, 2-2 SEC) snapped 2-game skid by handing Gators (11-3, 2-1) 1st loss in 7 games.
St. Mary’s (Calif.) 61 at #16 Gonzaga 75
Cory Violette had 20 points and 14 rebounds and Ronny Turiaf added 19 points as Bulldogs (14-2, 4-0 WCC) pulled away in 2nd half to beat Gaels (10-7, 1-1) for 7th win in row.
Nebraska 61 at #18 Texas 63
Royal Ivey hit jump shot with :02.4 left to lift Longhorns (11-2, 2-0 Big 12) over Cornhuskers (10-4, 0-3). Ivey and Kenny Taylor each scored 13 points for Texas.
#20 Mississippi St. 64 at LSU 54
Branden Vincent scored 12 points, including 8 in 2nd half, and Bulldogs (14-1, 3-1 SEC) off furious rally by Tigers (12-2, 2-1), who trailed by 19 before comeback.
#22 Texas Tech 75 at Baylor 66
Ronald Ross had 24 points and made 2 late steals he converted into breakaway dunks as Red Raiders (14-2, 2-0 Big 12) held off Bears (5-10, 0-2) for 10th straight victory.
Evansville 53 at #24 Creighton 72
Brody Deren scored 15 points and Bluejays (13-1, 5-1 MVC) bounced back from 1st loss Wednesday by extending school-record home winning streak to 26 games.
Northern Illinois 59 at Ohio 80
Thomas Stephens scored 17 points and Jaivon Harris added 16 as Bobcats (5-10, 2-3 MAC) pulled away in 2nd half to beat Huskies (7-9, 2-4), who got 21 points from Perry Smith.
Southern Illinois 72 at Bradley 62
Brad Korn had 17 points and Darren Brooks added 12 as Salukis (12-2, 6-0 MVC) made 8 consecutive FTs in final :45 to defeat Braves (8-9, 1-5), who lost 5th in row.
Western Illinois 57 at Valparaiso 73
Jimmie Miles came off bench to score 17 points as Crusaders (6-9, 3-3 Mid-Con) rolled past Leathernecks (2-14, 0-5), whose Will Lewis also had 17.
Oral Roberts 66 at Chicago State 74
Craig Franklin scored season-high 28 points, tying career high, and Cougars (4-14, 3-2 Mid-Con) pulled away in 2nd half to hand Golden Eagles (12-5, 5-1) 1st league loss.
Tennessee State 60 at Eastern Illinois 59
Bruce Price’s layup with :50 left lifted Tigers (4-11, 3-1 OVC) to come-from-behind win over Panthers (3-11, 1-3), who led by 12 with 5:26 to play. Josh Gomes’ 18 points led EIU.
