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News Nuggets, 03.09.05
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

49ers' Basden, Pirates' Hammonds honored by C-USA

Charlotte's Eddie Basden was chosen as the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year for the second year in a row and East Carolina's Tom Hammonds, the son of the former Georgia Tech and NBA star of the same name, has landed a spot on the All-Freshman team.

The players were recognized in a Tuesday announcement from the league office that also tabbed UAB's Ronell Taylor as the conference’s Sixth Player of the Year and named Memphis's Darius Washington, Jr., the C-USA Freshman of the Year.

Basden, a senior swingman, is the first league player to earn back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year honors since former Cincinnati standout Kenyon Martin received the accolade three straight seasons from 1998-2000. The senior holds the C-USA record for career steals with 260 and his 89 thefts this season are the third most in league history. Basden also led the 49ers in rebounds with 8.4 rpg.

The All-Conference USA squad, announced Monday, included Basden and his teammate, junior forward Curtis Withers, on the first team.

Washington, a guard, and Hammonds, a forward, were named to an All-Freshman team that included Memphis forward Joey Dorsey, Louisville forward Juan Palacios and Tulane guard Taylor Rochestie.

Washington is the third Memphis player to earn C-USA’s Freshman of the Year honor in the last four seasons. The point guard led all league freshmen with a 15.6 ppg average and also dished out 3.4 assists per game.

Hammonds netted an average eight points per game for the Pirates and joined current ECU teammates Mike Cook (2004) and Moussa Badiane (2002) to have earned the All-Freshman distinction.

CONFERENCE USA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

   Eddie Basden, Charlotte, G/F, 6-5, 215, Sr., Washington DC

CONFERENCE USA SIXTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR

   Ronell Taylor, UAB, G, 6-5, 180, Sr., Montgomery, AL

CONFERENCE USA FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

   Darius Washington, Jr., Memphis, G, 6-2, 185, Fr., Orlando, FL

CONFERENCE USA ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM

   Joey Dorsey, Memphis, F, 6-9, 260, Baltimore, MD
   Tom Hammonds, IV, East Carolina, G, 6-4, 200, Crestview, FL
   Juan Palacios, F, Louisville, 6-8, 245, Medellin, Columbia
   Taylor Rochestie, G, Tulane, 6-1, 175, Santa Barbara, CA
   Darius Washington, Jr., Memphis, G, 6-2, 185, Fr., Orlando, FL

From Conference USA reports.

Gamecocks' Thompson surrenders to police

COLUMBIA — South Carolina defensive lineman Moe Thompson surrendered to police Tuesday, nearly a week after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

He turned himself in at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, university spokesman Russ McKinney said. The player was scheduled for a bond hearing Wednesday.

Thompson and teammate Kevin Mainord broke into at least one dorm room and took several items, including a television and DVD player, police said. Thompson is charged with two counts of burglary and three counts of petty larceny, McKinney said.

Mainord was arrested last week and his bond was set at $20,000. Police had been looking for Thompson since then.

Thompson and Mainord have been suspended from the team. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, who indicated last week he would crack down on behavior standards for his players, has said the pair won't be back with the Gamecocks if the charges prove true.

Thompson was a three-year starter at South Carolina. He had 24 tackles and three sacks in 11 games last season.

He was one of six players suspended for the season opener against Central Florida for an on-field brawl against Clemson last season. Thompson also was one of several players not allowed to work out with the team last summer because of poor classroom attendance.

Also, six Gamecock players were charged with stealing about $18,000 in computer equipment, video equipment and framed photographs from the locker room area at Williams-Brice Stadium last November.

This month, leading rusher Demetris Summers was kicked off the team by Spurrier for violating athletic department policy.

Holiday Bowl doles out highest all-time payout

SAN DIEGO — Texas Tech and California each received $2,086,815 for playing in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 30, a record payout for the game, which was won by Texas Tech 45-31.

The previous Holiday Bowl record payout was in 2001, when Texas and Washington each received $2,044,988.

It is the fifth consecutive year the Holiday Bowl has paid the participating teams at least $2 million. The Holiday Bowl's team payout ranks ninth-largest of the 28 bowls.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from Associated Press and other sources. Copyright 2005 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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