Cyclones cleared in court storm

Seven months after toughening penalties for schools whose fans rush onto the court or field, the Big 12 said Friday it would not discipline Iowa State for students storming the court after a basketball win over Iowa that left a newspaper columnist with a broken leg.

The league said Iowa State handled the postgame celebration consistent with Big 12 guidelines and considers the matter closed.

Randy Peterson of the Des Moines Register had surgery Friday. He said he had no problem with what happened.

“If fans want to storm the court, they’re going to do it,” he said. “It happens everywhere. It just so happens that it happened to me.” Keep it zipped: Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford apologized one day after he was ejected from his son’s high school game for voicing displeasure with an official.

“While people can debate whether my comments to a referee during a high school game involving my son warranted being asked to leave the building ... there is no question I should have exercised better judgment in not publicly expressing my feelings,” Ford said. “I regret the situation and apologize.” Loving what he does: First-year coach Bobby Hurley believes his Arizona State Sun Devils (6-2) can be competitive against No. 5 Kentucky (8-1).

He has eight players who average between 6.6 and 13.4 points.

“I can’t really explain how rewarding it is to do what I’m doing,” Hurley said. “There’s nothing that really compares to it.” Layups: Spike Albrecht, who scored 17 points in the first half of the 2013 NCAA championship game and became one of Michigan’s leaders, will give up the game because of ongoing hip problems. ... For the first time since 1994, No. 12 Xavier (9-0) will meet No. 23 Cincinnati (8-1) with both teams ranked. ... Other ranked teams putting unbeaten records on the line Saturday include No. 1 Michigan State (10-0) vs. Florida, No. 7 Oklahoma (6-0) vs. Oral Roberts and No. 11 Purdue (10-0) vs. Youngstown State.

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