West Virginia dismisses two starters

West Virginia starters Esa Ahmad and Wes Harris were dismissed from the team for undisclosed violations of athletic department policies. The Mountaineers (10-14, 2-9 Big 12) announced the dismissals Monday night without elaboration.

Ahmad, a senior four-year starter, was the team’s thirdleading scorer this season at 12 points per game and the third-leading rebounder at 5.8. Harris, a junior in his second season as a starter, averaged 7.9 points and 4.5 rebounds.

Virginia

The No. 4-ranked Cavaliers (21-2, 9-2) avoided a second ACC loss in two days with a 69-61 victory at No. 8 North Carolina (19-5, 9-2) to forge a tie for second place in the conference behind Duke (21-2, 9-1). Kyle Guy had 20 points, including back-toback 3-pointers in the final two minutes, for Virginia. De’Andre Hunter also had 20 points for the Cavaliers.

Robert Morris

The host Colonials women remained unbeaten in Northeast Conference play with a 60-40 victory against Central Connecticut (6-15, 3-8). Nneka Ezeigbo had 15 points and seven rebounds for Robert Morris (14-8, 11-0). Top-ranked Baylor, Louisville, Oregon and Mississippi State are the No. 1 seeds in the first NCAA top 16 women’s reveal . ... South Dakota is ranked in the AP women’s poll for the first time in school history. The 25th-ranked Coyotes (22-3) have won nine consecutive games and are off to the school’s best start since moving up to Division I in 2008.