Official Sidelined After Fan’s Allegation

The official accused of punching a fan at an Indiana State women’s basketball game will not work until the investigation concludes, the Missouri Valley Conference announced Friday.

Gerald Amstutz, 25, a brother of Indiana State player Amy Amstutz, said official Tim Daley struck him as Daley and other officials were leaving the court after a Jan. 9 game at Terre Haute against Northern Iowa.

MVC Commissioner Doug Elgin said the conference is continuing to gather information in the case.

“I anticipate that we will announce our findings and make a decision on a course of action by the league by midweek,” Elgin said Friday.

Daley, 33, of Champaign, Ill., told university police that a fan spit on him as he was leaving the court. Amstutz, of Williams, Ind., said Daley punched him without provocation.

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Jim Harrick will bring a team to Los Angeles for the first time since becoming coach at Rhode Island when the Rams participate in the inaugural Pepperdine tournament next December, Wave Coach Lorenzo Romar said.

Romar was an assistant at UCLA under Harrick, who also coached at Pepperdine from 1979-88, compiling a 167-97 record in nine seasons.

Romar said Eastern Michigan also is close to confirming its participation in the four-team tournament.