Former Iowa star Pierre Pierce pleaded not guilty Monday to charges he assaulted his ex-girlfriend and ransacked her home.
His trial must begin by mid-May. If convicted on all charges, Pierce could be sentenced to up to 56 years in prison and fined $9,000.
He was charged in February with two counts of burglary, assault with intent to commit sexual assault and criminal mischief. The burglary and assault charges are felonies. Fourth-degree criminal mischief is a serious misdemeanor.
Police say Pierce choked his former girlfriend at her home in West Des Moines on Jan. 27, threatened her with a knife and stripped her, according to court documents. He also was charged with stealing a laptop and camera.
Pierce was dismissed from the team Feb. 2, two days after police named him a suspect.
Bearcats lose Moore
A chronic back problem has forced Cincinnati point guard Chadd Moore to give up basketball.
Moore, a junior, has been sidelined for most of the last four games by the flu and a sore back. His decision leaves the Bearcats with only one point guard — Jihad Muhammad. Moore has been bothered by a bad back during his three seasons at Cincinnati.
“My back has gotten worse and I’m in pain all the time,” Moore said.
Moore played in 24 of the Bearcats’ 28 games, averaging 3.3 points.
MONDAY’S GAMES
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
#24 Pittsburgh 72 at #5 BC 50
Pitt halted loss streak at 3, kept Eagles (23-3, 12-3) from clinching Big East title share. Chris Taft 12 pts, 8 rebs for Panthers (19-7, 9-6), who won 6th straight over BC (Craig Smith 22 pts).
Northern Colo. 60 at #12 Gonzaga 87
Ronny Turiaf 22 pts, 8 rebs for WCC champ Gonzaga (23-4, 12-2), which won its 10th in a row. Zags held Northern Colorado (8-20, 2-20) to 2-for-20 from 3-point range.
#20 Oklahoma 74 at Texas 58
Lawrence McKenzie scored 16 for Sooners (22-6, 11-4 Big 12), whose 5th straight win dealt Texas’ NCAA tourney hopes serious blow. Daniel Gibson (16 pts) led Longhorns (19-9, 8-7).
Southern Illinois 60 at Indiana St. 52
Darren Brooks had 22 pts, and Salukis (24-6, 14-3 MVC) made 11 of 12 FTs to win 8th straight. Amani Daanish 16 pts, 7 rebs for Indiana St. (10-18, 5-12), which dropped 3rd in row.
Drake 79 at Bradley 69
Pete Eggers 22 had pts for Drake (12-15, 7-11 MVC), which outscored Braves (13-14, 6-12) 41-31 in 2nd half for 4th straight win. Marcellus Sommerville had 25 pts for Bradley.
Chicago State 53 at W. Illinois 64
Eulis Baez 17 pts, 8 rebs for WIU; Will Lewis added 12 as Western (11-16, 7-9 Mid-Con) won 4th straight. Leathernecks outscored Chicago State (8-18, 7-9) 41-25 in 2nd half.
Creighton 64 at Illinois St. 59
Nate Funk 20 pts, Johnny Mathies, Tyler McKinney 9 each–McKinney added 7 assists–as Bluejays (20-10, 11-7 MVC) won 5th in row. Vince Greene 14 pts, 5 assists for ISU (17-12, 8-10).
Valparaiso 79 at Mo.-KC 80
Brandon Temple had 20 pts, 3-pter with less than :07 left for UMKC. Kangaroos (16-11, 12-4 Mid-Con) overcame 5-pt deficit in last minute. Dan Oppland’s 25 pts (15-15, 10-6) led Valpo.
