Hokies' Allen punished

Freshman given 2-game suspension

Virginia Tech forward Jeff Allen was suspended two games by the Atlantic Coast Conference on Sunday for making inappropriate contact with an official during a men's basketball game at Georgia Tech.

Allen, who fouled out with 4:32 to play Saturday in an 81-70 loss, was on his way to the bench when he made contact with official Zelton Steed. Steed promptly ejected the freshman.

Allen, who has started all 18 Hokies games this season, is second on the team in scoring with a 12.8-point average. He will miss the Hokies' home game against Duke on Thursday and Saturday's game at Boston College.

MORE BASKETBALL

SUTTON WINS 799TH: Eddie Sutton is looking forward to his 800th win mostly because his sons are.

"Where it hit home for me is my three sons," the interim San Francisco coach said after the Dons defeated Portland 60-59 Saturday night for Sutton's 799th career win. "They encouraged me to come here. They said, '800 may not mean much to you, but it will to us and our children 20 years from now.' "

The Dons (5-12, 1-1 West Coast Conference) lost their first four games under Sutton, who took over as interim coach in late December.

(The Associated Press)

FOOTBALL

49ERS TOLD TO AIM HIGH: If Charlotte goes forward with football, the university needs an all-or-nothing attitude, Mac Everett, chairman of the Charlotte football feasibility committee, told university trustees during their annual retreat this week.

Everett told trustees the committee voted unanimously in favor of starting a football program by 2012 after studying the question in depth since March. But trustees and administrators must commit to developing a Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly I-A) program if they choose to start football, Everett said.

Chancellor Phil Dubois said he plans to present his recommendation to the board by May.

(The Charlotte Observer)

RODRIGUEZ'S CONTRACT CONFIRMED: Rich Rodriguez agreed to a six-year deal worth $2.5 million annually when he left West Virginia last month for Michigan.

The contract, which has not been finalized or signed, also includes a $4 million buyout. The terms of Rodriguez's deal were confirmed Sunday by school spokesman Bruce Madej.

West Virginia has sued Rodriguez to collect on a $4 million buyout clause in his contract with the Mountaineers.

(The Associated Press)

SUNDAY'S RESULTS

SWIMMING

NORTH CAROLINA SPLITS WITH VIRGINIA: The host UNC men defeated Virginia 151-149, the Tar Heels' first dual-meet victory over the Cavaliers since 1998. The Virginia women won 191-109.

The UNC men won behind a record-setting performance from freshman Joe Kinderwater and two individual wins each by freshman Tyler Harris and senior Ryan Funderburk.

Kinderwater swam the second fastest time in ACC history and broke the UNC school record in the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 8:58.09. Kinderwater also won the 500 free in a personal-best time of 4:26.04.

LATE SATURDAY

TRACK AND FIELD

UNC AND ST. AUG'S LEAD MEET: North Carolina won 11 events and St. Augustine's finished first in six events at the Eddie and Joe Smith UNC Indoor Track and Field Classic.

North Carolina's LaToya James posted a provisional NCAA qualifying time in the 60-meter hurdles, winning in 8.32 seconds.

For St. Augustine's, Sharif Nash won the men's 200-meter dash (21.94) and Alvin Miles won the men's high jump (6-8), then they helped the Falcons win the men's 4x400 relay (3:16.00).

Duke's Ryan McDermott won the men's 3,000 meters in 8:24.00.

(The Associated Press)