'Canes' Johnson suspended over 'benefits'

UNIVERSITY OF Miami center Reggie Johnson has been declared ineligible after an investigation revealed that members of his family took travel benefits that the university said were approved by a member of former coach Frank Haith's staff.

The Hurricanes have asked the NCAA for a speedy decision on whether Johnson can be reinstated.

"The University of Miami . . . is seeking his immediate reinstatement," read a statement from school officials about an hour before the Hurricanes - who are on the NCAA Tournament bubble - were to host No. 15 Florida State last night.

Johnson was aware of the investigation but was not told that he was declared ineligible until yesterday.

Johnson is averaging 10.6 points and 6.9 rebounds for Miami, which was rocked last summer when allegations made by former booster and convicted Ponzi scheme architect Nevin Shapiro were unveiled in an article published by Yahoo Sports. Shapiro's claims sparked a department-wide investigation into compliance practices, and that inquiry uncovered the matter involving Johnson's family. Shapiro is not linked to the current situation.

The university statement also said that Johnson was unaware of the benefits and his family was told they were permissible by a member of the former basketball coaching staff.

In the game, Durand Scott scored 17 points and the Hurricanes (17-10, 8-6 Atlantic Coast Conference), without Johnson, upset Florida State (19-9, 10-4), 78-62, snapping a six-game losing streak to the archrival Seminoles.

At Ohio State, Jared Berggren scored Wisconsin's final five points, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 31 seconds left, and the 16th-ranked Badgers beat the No. 8 Buckeyes, 63-60. Jordan Taylor had 19 points for Wisconsin (21-8, 10-6 Big Ten), which made up for an earlier loss at home to the Buckeyes. With Ohio State (23-6, 11-5) up by a point, Berggren swished a shot from beyond the arc on the left wing. Deshaun Thomas had 23 points for Ohio State.

The Ohio State loss clinched at least a tie for the Big Ten title for Michigan State.

* At Louisville, Russ Smith scored 18 points, Kyle Kuric added 17 and No. 17 Louisville (22-7, 10-6 Big East) held on to beat Pittsburgh (15-14, 4-12), 57-54. J.J. Moore scored 16 points and Dante Taylor 11 for the Panthers.

* At Minnesota, Christian Watford rediscovered his shooting stroke with 12 points for 23rd-ranked Indiana, and the Hoosiers (22-7, 9-7 Big Ten) blew out the sputtering Gophers (17-12, 5-11), 69-50.

* At South Florida, freshman point guard Anthony Collins drained two free throws with 3.2 seconds remaining to lift the Bulls (18-11, 11-5 Big East) past Cincinnati (20-9, 10-6), 46-45. For the sixth consecutive outing, the Bulls held an opponent to 20 points under its scoring average.

* At Illinois, Meyers Leonard had 22 points and 14 rebounds off the bench as the Fighting Illini (17-12, 6-10 Big Ten) defeated Iowa (15-14, 7-9), 65-54, to end a six-game losing streak.

* At Colorado, Austin Dufault and Spencer Dinwiddie each scored 15 points, Andre Roberson grabbed 15 rebounds and the Buffaloes (19-9, 11-5 Pacific 12) beat California (23-7, 13-4), 70-57. Cal entered the game tied with Washington for the top spot in the Pac-12.

* At Oregon State, Garrett Sim scored 25 points and Olu Ashaolu and DeVoe Joseph each scored 16 points in Oregon's (20-8, 11-5 Pac-12) 74-73 triumph over the Beavers (15-13, 5-11), 74-73.

At Miami, Riquna Williams scored 20 points and the No. 5 Hurricanes (25-4, 12-2 ACC) capped its Atlantic Coast Conference regular season with an 88-42 win over Boston College (7-22, 2-14).

* At North Carolina State, Alyssa Thomas scored 22 of her 24 points in the second half and added a career-high 17 rebounds as No. 6 Maryland (25-4, 12-4 ACC) beat the Wolfpack (16-14, 5-11), 65-50.

* At North Carolina, Tricia Liston scored 15 points to help No. 7 Duke (24-4, 15-1 ACC) beat the Tar Heels (19-10, 9-7), 69-63, and win the ACC regular-season title.

* At Penn State, Maggie Lucas scored 24 points and dished out eight assists to the lead No. 11 Nittany Lions (23-5, 11-3 Big Ten) over Minnesota (14-16, 7-9), 74-51.