Story last updated at 1:46 a.m. Wednesday, May 4, 2005

Sports Briefs

OCU introduces Harper as new hoops coach

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Ray Harper was named Tuesday as the new head coach at Oklahoma City University, a day after he resigned as coach at Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro, Ky.

OCU athletic director Jim Abbott announced the hiring of Harper, 43, who led Wesleyan to NCAA Division II championships in 1999 and 2001.

"I'm excited," Harper said. "The opportunity to coach in Abe Lemons Arena is very special to me."

Harper played at the University of Texas from 1981-83, which was coached at the time by Lemons, a former OCU coach.

He replaces Win Case, who stepped down in March after 13 seasons.

Former Tiger charged

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- Former Missouri basketball player Jeffrey Ferguson has been charged with misdemeanor assault in connection with a weekend confrontation on a parking lot, presumably involving a BB gun.

Police said Ferguson, 23, was arrested about 2 a.m. Saturday after he reportedly brandished a weapon outside an apartment complex after residents complained that someone had taken their parking spot.

Ferguson, free on bond, is charged with two counts of third-degree assault, each carrying a possible 15-day jail term, assistant Boone County prosecutor Steven Berry said Tuesday.

Columbia Police Capt. Zim Schwartze told the Columbia Daily Tribune that residents of the apartment complex returned home early Saturday and found their parking spot was taken.

When they honked their horn to see if someone would move the car, Ferguson emerged from his apartment and came to the parking lot, "waving the gun around and yelling, making odd statements they didn't understand," Schwartze said.

A police search of Ferguson's room uncovered several cartridges used with BB guns.

Ferguson, who announced last month that he was leaving the Tigers' basketball team but remains on scholarship until the end of the semester, sat out most of last season as a junior with a knee injury.

Over his career at Missouri, the 6-foot-10 forward averaged 2.8 points and 2.5 rebounds.

Fan gets probation

PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) -- A fan charged with throwing a chair during a fight among players and fans at an NBA game was sentenced Tuesday to two years of probation.

Bryant Jackson was the only one of the 13 players and fans charged with a felony in the Nov. 19 melee during the Indiana Pacers-Detroit Pistons game.

Jackson also was ordered to pay about $6,000 in restitution.

Jackson pleaded no contest in March to one count of felony assault and one count of misdemeanor assault and battery.

Cochell to have surgery

NORMAN (AP) -- Former Oklahoma baseball coach Larry Cochell, who resigned for using a racial slur while praising a black player, is scheduled to undergo heart surgery.

Cochell, 65, said he is learning all he can about the procedure that will be necessary to reduce a 70 to 80 percent blockage in one coronary artery and a 60 percent blockage in another.

The blockages were discovered in a procedure Monday morning that had been scheduled long before Cochell resigned Sunday.

Cochell said his plan is to have the surgery as soon as possible.

ESPN aired a report Friday in which Cochell was quoted as telling ESPN on-air talent Gary Thorne and Kyle Peterson: "There are honkies and white people and there are n------ and black people. Dunigan is a good black kid." And, "There's no n----- in him," in reference to black freshman Joe Dunigan. Dunigan has said he has forgiven Cochell.

Baker gets called up

SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) -- Former Oklahoma State pitcher Scott Baker nearly missed the phone call of his life.

Baker was with his pregnant wife, Leann, at a doctor's appointment when Rochester Red Wings acting manager Rich Miller called Baker's cellular phone.

Baker heard the words every minor league player lives to hear -- welcome to The Show.

"Things happen and situations come up," said Baker.

The situation was the 10-day suspension of Twins reliever Juan Rincon, who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

Baker, the Twins' Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2004, was 1-0 with a team-leading 1.33 ERA in five starts with Triple-A Rochester.

Twins General Manager Terry Ryan said the Twins have not decided whether to use Baker in relief -- Rincon's role -- or as a spot starter.