Robert Morris

A ROBERT MORRIS internal investigation into former basketball coach Mike Rice found no evidence of the "coaches against player" brawls alleged by an ex-Rutgers employee, though one former Colonial contacted by the school claims Rice used anti-gay slurs on several occasions and engaged in a shoving match with a player during halftime of a game. Rice coached at the suburban Pittsburgh school from 2007-10 before taking the job at Rutgers, who fired Rice last week after video of the coach physically and emotionally abusing players became public.

Robert Morris, 78, a cryptographer who helped develop the Unix computer operating system, which controls an increasing number of the world's computers, died Sunday in Lebanon, N.H. The cause was complications of dementia, his wife, Anne Farlow Morris, said. Known as an original thinker in computer science, Mr. Morris also played an important clandestine role in planning what was probably the nation's first cyberwar: the electronic attacks on Saddam Hussein's Iraqi government in the months leading up to the Persian Gulf War of 1991.

Dallas Green deflected a potential game-winning shot then sank two free throws with 7 seconds left as Robert Morris beat Quinnipiac, 52-50, last night in Hamden, Conn., for its second straight Northeast Conference championship and an automatic NCAA berth. Freshman Karon Abraham scored 16 points to lead the Colonials (23-11), and Green and Russell Johnson each added nine. This will be Robert Morris' seventh trip to the NCAA tournament. James Feldeine had 17 points for Quinnipiac (23-9)

With his team having gone through the NCAA tournament experience last season, Robert Morris coach Mike Rice figures it's time to present a challenge to his 15th-seeded Colonials: make history in today's game against Villanova in the first round of the NCAA South Regional. Since the NCAA tournament expanded to 16 seeds per region in 1985, the team seeded 15th has defeated the No. 2 seed just four times against 96 losses. The feat hasn't been done since 2001, when Hampton defeated Iowa State, 58-57.

Math, Civics & Sciences senior Jeremiah "Lump" Worthem gave an oral commitment Thursday to play basketball at Robert Morris. "I love the coaching staff, and I love the way that they play," the 6-foot-6 swingman said. "I just feel very comfortable with the environment, and I know some of the players up there. " He chose Robert Morris over scholarship offers from Stony Brook, Siena, Niagara, Long Island, and Maryland-Baltimore County, among others. Worthem averaged 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists last season.

Russell Johnson is feeling a little more comfortable today, after signing to attend Robert Morris on a full basketball scholarship next fall. The 6-6 senior forward just finished a stellar career at Chester High, playing a key role in the Clippers' 33-1 season and their second PIAA Class AAAA state championship in 4 years. Johnson selected Robert Morris, a school just outside Pittsburgh that plays in the Northeast Conference, over George Washington, La Salle, Temple and Marshall.

MIKE MCFADDEN hit two free throws with 8.7 seconds remaining and host Robert Morris shocked defending national champion Kentucky, 59-57, in the opening round of the NIT on Tuesday night. The Wildcats decided not to call timeout after the second free throw but Kyle Wiltjer's three-pointer before the buzzer bounced harmlessly off the rim. Lucky Jones led the Colonials (24-10) with 15 points but was ejected for a flagrant foul on Archie Goodwin with 3:41 to play. Kentucky, which trailed by 13 in the second half, managed to tie it twice but could never grab the lead.

JEREMIAH "Lump" Worthem entered the it's-heating-up part of the basketball recruiting process expecting to make all five of the permissible official visits. Instead, he cut things short after two and, in retrospect, could have done so after one. Robert Morris it is for the 6-6, 205-pound Worthem, a senior small forward from Math, Civics and Sciences Charter. "I felt Robert Morris in my heart during the visit, which was three weekends ago for their football Homecoming," Worthem said.

Immersed in one of the toughest years of his life, Velton Jones felt compelled to make a prediction. Sitting in the office of then-Robert Morris assistant Andy Toole in 2008, Jones browsed through the records section of the basketball team's media guide. He had yet to play a minute of college basketball but saw himself in those pages as part of an improving program. "Coach Toole, I guarantee you I will be in this book," Jones said. That wasn't ego talking, either. But it was a sign of what was to come.

In a game littered with turnovers and poor shooting, Robert Morris finally pulled away as they knocked off La Salle, 51-44, at the Palestra on Friday afternoon. Ramon Galloway missed the first of a one-and-one with 25 seconds left as the Explores failed to cut the Robert Morris lead to one. The Colonials were fouled on the inbounds pass and sank both free throws to put the game away. Trailing by three, Earl Pettis lunged for a steal and instead was assessed a foul to send Robert Morris to the line.

Immersed in one of the toughest years of his life, Velton Jones felt compelled to make a prediction. Sitting in the office of then-Robert Morris assistant Andy Toole in 2008, Jones browsed through the records section of the basketball team's media guide. He had yet to play a minute of college basketball but saw himself in those pages as part of an improving program. "Coach Toole, I guarantee you I will be in this book," Jones said. That wasn't ego talking, either. But it was a sign of what was to come.

A ROBERT MORRIS internal investigation into former basketball coach Mike Rice found no evidence of the "coaches against player" brawls alleged by an ex-Rutgers employee, though one former Colonial contacted by the school claims Rice used anti-gay slurs on several occasions and engaged in a shoving match with a player during halftime of a game. Rice coached at the suburban Pittsburgh school from 2007-10 before taking the job at Rutgers, who fired Rice last week after video of the coach physically and emotionally abusing players became public.

NEWARK, N.J. - Rutgers said it would reconsider its decision to retain men's basketball coach Mike Rice after a videotape was televised showing him shoving, grabbing, and throwing balls at players in practice and using gay slurs. The videotape, shown Tuesday on ESPN, prompted scores of outraged social-media comments as well as sharp criticism from Gov. Christie and Miami Heat star LeBron James. Athletic director Tim Pernetti was given a copy of the video in late November by a former employee.

Kentucky coach John Calipari and Kentucky experienced an entirely different kind of "one-and-done" in Tuesday's opening round of the NIT. A year after cutting down the nets in New Orleans, the defending national champions were cut down in Calipari's hometown of Moon, Pa., by Robert Morris, who let a 13-point second-half lead disappear before pulling out a thrilling 59-57 victory. Robert Morris (24-10) led almost the entire way, never blinking in a rare visit from one of college basketball's Goliaths.

MIKE MCFADDEN hit two free throws with 8.7 seconds remaining and host Robert Morris shocked defending national champion Kentucky, 59-57, in the opening round of the NIT on Tuesday night. The Wildcats decided not to call timeout after the second free throw but Kyle Wiltjer's three-pointer before the buzzer bounced harmlessly off the rim. Lucky Jones led the Colonials (24-10) with 15 points but was ejected for a flagrant foul on Archie Goodwin with 3:41 to play. Kentucky, which trailed by 13 in the second half, managed to tie it twice but could never grab the lead.

Long after his players had left the locker room, Math, Civics & Sciences coach Danny Jackson, flanked by his assistants, was still fuming. "It was a lack of effort, a lack of defensive intensity, a lack of a lot of things," he said after the Mighty Elephants struggled mightily before ousting Sankofa Freedom Academy, 71-59, Friday night in a PIAA Class A boys' basketball quarterfinal at La Salle High. MC&S, ranked No. 6 in Southeastern Pennsylvania by The Inquirer, arrived in Wyndmoor as a considerable favorite.

Long after his players had left the locker room, Math, Civics & Sciences coach Danny Jackson, flanked by his assistants, was still fuming. "It was a lack of effort, a lack of defensive intensity, a lack of a lot of things," he said after the Mighty Elephants struggled mightily before ousting Sankofa Freedom Academy, 71-59, Friday night in a PIAA Class A boys' basketball quarterfinal at La Salle High. MC&S, ranked No. 6 in Southeastern Pennsylvania by The Inquirer, arrived in Wyndmoor as a considerable favorite.

CITY COMMITMENTS Name School Pos. Hgt. Wgt. College Nick Arcidiacono Archbishop Wood TE 6-4 240 Rutgers Sharif Custis Neumann-Goretti TE 6-3 210 Massachusetts William Fuller Roman Catholic WR 6-0 170 Notre Dame Matt Galambos Haverford School LB 6-3 235 Pittsburgh Najee Goode Imhotep Charter DB 5-10 170 Maine Andrew Guckin Archbishop Wood RB 5-11 200 Penn Patrick Hoffman La Salle OL 6-4 255 Navy Jaryd Jones-Smith West...

Two of the catalysts behind Coatesville's drive to the PIAA Class AAAA state final have made commitments to Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) programs. Speedy wideout and kick returner Chris Jones has committed to play at Coastal Carolina, and strong-armed quarterback Emmett Hunt, The Inquirer's player of the year in Southeastern Pennsylvania, committed to Delaware State. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound Jones, who made 71 catches for 1,490 yards and 24 touchdowns last season, opted for Coastal Carolina, in Conway, S.C., over Temple and Massachusetts.