Junior Drew Coffman has left the Texas Tech basketball team, which has struggled with injuries and a young roster this season.
The 6-foot-1-inch guard played in 11 games for the Red Raiders (7-6), starting four. He had a career-high 22 points in an 83-74 victory over Furman on Nov. 23.
“He said he didn’t feel like he was helping the team and he didn’t want to play anymore,” coach Bob Knight told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
“I told him I was sorry it didn’t work out for him. He said he didn’t blame me, but I always blame myself when a player doesn’t get out of it what we thought he could.”
Layups
Former Ohio State assistant coach Rick Boyages was hired as an associate commissioner in charge of men’s basketball operations for the Mid-American Conference. . . . Former Texas forward Dion Dowell, who left the Longhorns earlier this month, told Foxsports.com he plans to transfer to Houston. The sophomore will be eligible next December after sitting out the rest of this season and the first semester in 2006.
THURSDAY’S GAMES
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
Arizona State 67 at #7 Washingtn 91
Brandon Roy scored career-high 35 in Pac-10 opener. He scored 16 in 1st half, 14 in 1st 11 minutes of 2nd as Huskies (11-0) extended nation’s longest home win streak to 32.
Stanford 54 at #11 UCLA 71
Arron Afflalo scored 18 of his 23 in 1st half as UCLA (11-1), which opened game with 18-1 run, won 8th in row. Bruins had lost 8 straight at home to Stanford, 6 in row overall.
La.-Lafayette 58 at #20 Nevada 65
Nick Fazekas had 26 pts, 8 rebs for Wolf Pack (10-1). Nevada led 56-35 with 8:53 left but made only 14 of 27 FTs and missed 7 in final 1:22 to let Ragin’ Cajuns back in game.
Western Illinois 54 vs. Bir.-Southern 67
Fred Oguns’ 19 pts led WIU (3-6) in opening game of UCF Holiday Classic in Orlando. Leathernecks were 1 of 12 on 3s and were held to 7 FGs, 29.2 pct shooting in 1st half.
Northern Illinois 80 vs. San Jose St. 78
James Hughes’ bank shot at buzzer lifted NIU (6-2). Cory Sims led Huskies with 18 pts, Hughes had 14. San Jose’s Alex Elam tied game 78-78 on 2 FTs with :06.5 remaining.
Valparaiso 89 at Centenary 74
Valpo’s 8-4 run to open 2nd half gave them 49-39 lead. Dan Oppland scored 22 pts and Ron Howard had season-high 4 steals to lead Crusaders (6-4), who had 13 as team.
