Feb 26, 2021 3 min read

Georgia Tech sanctions lifted by NCAA

The NCAA has overturned scholarship and recruiting limitations placed on the Georgia Tech men’s basketball program in 2019.

The decision from the NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee announced Friday overturned the reduction of one scholarship per year for four years. It also restores Georgia Tech’s freedom to schedule official recruiting trips in conjunction with home games.

The NCAA’s Committee on Infractions will reconsider the scholarship sanctions, which have not started while under appeal, at a date which has not been announced. The recruiting sanctions were vacated.

Last year, Georgia Tech agreed to miss the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament after withdrawing its appeal of a postseason ban for 2020.

The penalties were the result of the NCAA finding major recruiting violations were committed by former Georgia Tech assistant coach Darryl LaBarrie as well as coach Josh Pastner’s former friend, Ron Bell. Pastner was not directly named in the findings.

By withdrawing the appeal last year, the Yellow Jackets remain eligible for postseason play this season.

At The Meadows

Friday at The Meadows turned up dreary with temperatures in the low 40s, hardly the ideal climate for track records. But Jeffery P apparently forgot to watch The Weather Channel. The 6-year-old Full Count-Betty Jean gelding scorched the mile in 1:51.3, matching the all-age track record shared by Lifetime Pursuit and Tall Cotton, who each achieved it in 2014.

Jeffery P was away second for Dave Palone before a quick quarter-pole burst gave him the lead. He widened at the three-quarters and accelerated from there, defeating the pocket-sitting Icanflylikeanangel by 3-3/4 lengths, with Lady’s Dude third. The winner clicked off fractions of 26.4/55.1/1:23.1/1:51.3.

Ron Burke trains Jeffery P, who now boasts a lifetime bankroll of $215,098, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Phillip Collura.

College baseball

Nick Riggle pitched six shutout innings and California University unleashed a 14-hit attack in a 12-1 victory over Wheeling in the season opener Friday at Wild Things Park.

Riggle scattered five hits and two walks. He struck out nine.

Jacob McCaskey had three hits for the Vulcans and was one of three players with two RBI. Louden Conte and patrick Brogdan also drove in two runs apiece. Conte had a double, the only extra-base hit for the Vulcans.

The Vulcans and Cardinals will play again today (1 p.m.) and Sunday at Wild Things Park.

In the NBA

Kevin Durant will be out through the All-Star break because of a hamstring injury, sidelining the Brooklyn Nets star from a game for which he was chosen to serve as a captain.

Indiana’s Domantas Sabonis was chosen by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to replace Durant, with Boston’s Jayson Tatum elevated to the pool of starters for the March 7 game in Atlanta.

In the NHL

Ryan Strome had a goal and two assists and Chris Kreider had a goal and an assist in New York’s three-goal second period, leading the Rangers to a 6-2 win over the Boston Bruins on Friday night.

Julian Gauthier, Colin Blackwell, Pavel Buchnevich and Jonny Brodzinski also scored to help the Rangers get their third win in four games. Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren each had two assists, and Alexandar Georgiev stopped 31 shots to improve to 2-0-2 in his last four starts.