COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOTES

Paul Cormier resigned as Fairfield’s coach to accept the newly created position of associate athletic director.

“After several discussions with administration, it was decided that a change was necessary,” said Cormier, who posted an 86-111 record in seven years as coach of the Stags. His team was 12-15 this season.

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Another Fresno State player was in trouble just days after the arrests of two Bulldogs accused of robbing and beating up an acquaintance.

A judge has vowed to penalize point guard Rafer Alston for failing to show up in court Thursday to explain why he hasn’t completed community service for assaulting two neighbors.

Alston faces sentencing April 1.

His lawyer, Mike Idiart, told Judge Denise Whitehead that Alston couldn’t make it to court because he was in Hawaii for an NIT game Thursday night. Alston was served a bench warrant a week ago for failing to complete the 40 hours of ordered community service by Dec. 16.

On Wednesday, Fresno State President John Welty warned the team he would pull them from the NIT tournament if the players did anything else to discredit the university.

Alston’s lawyer assured school officials the problem was merely a matter of paperwork.

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Arizona and Mississippi will join host New Mexico at next season’s Black Coaches Assn. Classic, with Rhode Island or Michigan State likely to be the fourth team for the doubleheader.

The games will be played Nov. 13 at The Pit.

The pairings have not been announced, but Arizona and New Mexico will not meet because they already are scheduled to meet during the 1998-99 regular season.

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T.J. Walker’s late free throws helped top-seeded Azusa Pacific beat No. 9 Incarnate Word of Austin, Texas, 66-62, in the quarterfinals of the NAIA men’s tournament in Tulsa, Okla.

It was the 17th consecutive victory for Asuza Pacific (34-4), which will play fourth-seeded Georgetown of Kentucky (34-3) in a semifinal today at 4 p.m. PST.

Jeremy DeVries scored 21 points to lead the Cougars and Walker scored 10--six in the final 5:50.

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Penn State routed Indiana, 70-42, and Baylor defeated Louisiana State, 66-61, to reach the women’s NIT championship game.

Penn State (20-13) will face Baylor (20-10) on Tuesday.