DBs out for socializing with MSU cheerleaders

November 22, 2018 at 12:00a.m.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.

Arkansas defensive backs Ryan Pulley and Kamren Curl have been suspended for the season finale against Missouri for socializing with members of Mississippi State’s spirit squad.

Arkansas coach Chad Morris announced the decision earlier this week. Pulley and Curl were seen with the Mississippi State students before last Saturday’s 52-6 loss in Starkville. Morris called the actions “unacceptable” during his postgame remarks.

Arkansas’ secondary already was short-handed. Cornerback Jordon Curtis escaped serious injury after he was struck by a car while leaving practice Sunday.

Morris says Curtis was treated and released from a hospital, but he won’t play against Missouri

Pitt fends off St. Louis

NEW YORK

Xavier Johnson hit the go-ahead layup with 1:19 left as Pittsburgh beat St. Louis 75-73 in The Barclays Center Classic on Wednesday.

It was a back-and-forth game with 12 lead changes before Pitt took the lead for good on Johnson’s layup. He then hit a pair of free throws to keep the Panthers undefeated at 6-0. Johnson finished with 20 points.

St. Louis (4-1) was led by Hasahn French, who had 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Jordan Goodwin, who scored 16. French — who is 12.5 percent from the free-throw line this season — had a chance to tie the game on the foul line with 4.9 seconds left but airballed the first shot of a one-and-one.

Malik Ellison and Sidy N’Dir both scored 13 points for the Panthers.

Whipple steps down at Massachusetts

AMHERST, Mass.

Massachusetts coach Mark Whipple is stepping down after his second stint leading the Minutemen produced just 16 victories in five seasons.

UMass athletic director Ryan Bamford announced in a news release Wednesday that the school and the 61-year-old Whipple had worked out a mutually agreed upon separation.

Whipple had two years remaining on a contract that pays $500,000 annually in base salary. UMass finished this season 4-8, the same mark as last year, after there was optimism the struggling independent program could take a modest step forward.

Whipple coached UMass from 1998-2003 when it was competing at the FCS level. He went 49-26 during that stint, with a national title in 1998.

UMass transitioned to FBS in 2012, but has won only 18 games since and been unable to join a football conference.

Miami dismisses leading receiver

CORAL GABLES, Fla.

Miami has dismissed leading receiver Jeff Thomas from its team, a move that comes just three days before the Hurricanes play their regular-season finale.

Thomas led Miami with 35 catches and 563 receiving yards this season. The team Wednesday did not say specifically why Thomas was dismissed.

It’s the latest blow in a rocky season for the Hurricanes (6-5, 3-4 Atlantic Coast Conference), the preseason pick to win the ACC’s Coastal Division and a team that started ranked No. 8 nationally. But they lost four straight games from Oct. 13 through Nov. 10.

Peru soccer leader wanted for murder

LIMA, Peru

A Peruvian prosecutor has requested the arrest of the president of the country’s soccer federation in a case that links him to two murders.

Prosecutor Juan Carrasco says Edwin Oviedo is the head of a criminal organization and ordered the killings of two sugar industry union leaders, one in 2012 and the other in 2015.

Carrasco says Oviedo is a flight risk because of alleged connections with another criminal organization made up of judges, prosecutors and business leaders.

Oviedo’s attorney, Carlos Isla, has denied all accusations.

With Oviedo as president of the soccer federation, Peru qualified to the World Cup for the first time in 36 years.

Staff/wire report