UM’s Hernandez hits roadblock in appeal; Duke loses
Dewan Hernandez hit another NCAA roadblock on Monday, but the University of Miami forward will take his eligibility appeal one more step in hopes of rejoining the team this season.
An NCAA legislative committee on Monday upheld two previous rulings that said Hernandez, a junior, had a relationship with aspiring agent Christian Dawkins, one of three defendants found guilty of fraud after an FBI investigation into college basketball’s relationship with sneaker companies.
According to his attorney, Jason Setchens, Hernandez has one more chance to have the decision overturned. He and the school will file paperwork to the student-athlete reinstatement committee and hope to get an answer before Saturday’s noon home game against against No. 13 North Carolina.
Hernandez, who changed his surname from Huell to Hernandez this season, was one of 19 players listed by Dawkins in an email detailing a business plan to pay prospective NBA players last season. The email said Dawkins played to pay Hernandez $500 per month. There has been no evidence that Hernandez took any money or knew of the plan, as no contract was signed.
The Hurricanes (9-7) could use Hernandez, as they have been playing with a seven-man rotation.
MONDAY’S GAMES
Syracuse 95, No. 1 Duke 91 (OT): Tyus Battle scored a season-high 32 points, and Syracuse used its 2-3 zone defense to rattle Duke (14-2, 3-1 ACC) in overtime as the Orange (12-5, 3-1) pulled off the upset.
Paschal Chukwu added 10 points and a career-high 18 rebounds. Elijah Hughes added 20 points, Frank Howard finished with 16 and Oshae Brissett had 14 for the Orange
Syracuse held Duke to 2-of-8 shooting in overtime and to just 21 percent shooting from three-point range while earning its second victory at Cameron Indoor Stadium in three years.
Pittsburgh 75, No. 11 Florida State 62: Trey McGowens had 30 points and seven rebounds, Xavier Johnson scored 16 and host Pittsburgh (12-5, 2-2 ACC) pulled away late for a win Florida State (13-4, 1-3).
McGowens, a freshman guard, attacked the bigger, deeper Seminoles relentlessly to help the Panthers end a 13-game losing streak against ranked teams. Pitt’s previous victory over a team in the AP Top 25 came against Florida State on Feb. 18, 2017.
Nebraska 66, No. 25 Indiana 51: Glynn Watson Jr. scored 15 points and Isaiah Copeland added 14 to help Nebraska (13-4, 3-3 Big Ten) upset host Indiana (12-5, 3-3). The Cornhuskers have won two in a row overall and three straight in the series. They never trailed.
MEN’S TOP 25 POLL
Duke remained firmly entrenched at No. 1 for a fourth consecutive week in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll, which was enough to give its Hall of Fame coach another record.
The Blue Devils led an unchanged top 10 in Monday’s AP Top 25 and spent their sixth week on top this season. That gave coach his 122nd week at No. 1 in the AP poll, breaking a tie with the late UCLA coach John Wooden for the most in poll history.
Duke had set a program record for most weeks at No. 1 in the AP poll in November, also by passing UCLA.
Behind Duke, secondranked and unbeaten Michigan earned nine firstplace votes, third-ranked Tennessee had 13 and Virginia — the only other unbeaten team — had the remaining six.