Two men sue Syracuse, Boeheim

NEW YORK - Two men who say they were molested by an assistant basketball coach at Syracuse University have sued the school and men's basketball coach Jim Boeheim for defamation.

Former Syracuse ball boys Bobby Davis and Mike Lang say they were molested by assistant coach Bernie Fine, who has since been fired and has denied the allegations. A third man also has accused the 65-year-old Fine, who had been Jim Boeheim's top assistant since 1976.

The U.S. attorney's office is investigating.

Attorney Gloria Allred said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon in New York City that the two men filed a lawsuit Tuesday morning in New York State Supreme Court.

Davis was a ball boy for the team in the 1980s; Lang is his stepbrother.

"It really hurt me to learn coach Boeheim had accused me of lying," Davis said.

Allred said after repeatedly telling the world that Davis and Lang were liars, it's time for the university and Boeheim to be held accountable.

Syracuse University did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

When the news broke Nov. 17, Boeheim staunchly, even defiantly, supported his old friend and said the accusations were lies to capitalize on the Penn State child sex-abuse case and make money off a lawsuit.

"The Penn State thing came out and the kid behind this is trying to get money," Boeheim told the Syracuse Post-Standard on Nov. 17.