New Mexico Player Dies

University of New Mexico basketball player Billy Feeney hanged himself in an apparent suicide early Thursday morning in downtown Albuquerque.

The 20-year-old Feeney was found dead at 5:15 a.m. outside an apartment complex, Albuquerque Police Chief Gilbert Gallegos said at a news conference.

“The evidence points that he hanged himself,” Gallegos said. “We are following up on the premise that it is a suicide.”

No suicide note was found at the scene, police said. The office of medical investigator has ruled out the possibility that Feeney was murdered, KRQE-TV in Albuquerque reported on its Web site.

Feeney was ineligible to play for the Lobos last season under NCAA rules after transferring from Portland State.

Only five weeks ago, the body of former Lobo center Patrick Dennehy was found in a field near Waco, Texas. Dennehy, who’d transferred to Baylor University, was allegedly shot twice in the head in mid-June by former teammate and roommate Carlton Dotson, who has been indicted for murder in Texas and is awaiting extradition from his home state of Maryland.

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Five Villanova basketball players were suspended for at least three games by the NCAA for making unauthorized telephone calls with a school access code.

Junior forward Marcus Austin and senior forward Andreas Bloch were suspended for eight games.In addition, senior guard Derrick Snowden, and sophomore forwards Curtis Sumpter and Chris Charles, will sit out three games.

The suspensions are to be served at the start of this season.

Pro Basketball

The Detroit Pistons traded Michael Curry to the Toronto Raptors for Lindsey Hunter in a move that will give Detroit more depth at point guard.

Curry started at small forward last season for Detroit, which had the best regular-season record in the Eastern Conference. Hunter, a former draft pick of the Pistons, joins point guards Chauncey Billups and Chucky Atkins with Detroit.

A jury in Saginaw, Mich., convicted Golden State Warrior player Jason Richardson of a misdemeanor domestic violence charge stemming from an assault on his ex-girlfriend.

Richardson remained free on bond pending a sentencing hearing, which was not immediately scheduled.

Richardson faces up to 93 days in jail and $500 in fines.

Hockey

John Ferguson Jr., director of hockey operations for the St. Louis Blues, has been hired as the general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He replaces Pat Quinn, who agreed to step down in June. At 36, Ferguson becomes the youngest GM in the NHL.

The Pittsburgh Penguins signed unrestricted free-agent defenseman Patrick Boileau.... Forwards Martin Rucinsky and Jan Hlavac agreed to terms with the New York Rangers.