Las Vegas Coach Resigns

Coach Charlie Spoonhour of Nevada Las Vegas resigned Tuesday, citing health reasons.

“I am physically unable to do this right now,” Spoonhour, 64, said in a statement. “Because of my health, it is in my best interest to step away. It has nothing to do with basketball or anything surrounding the program.”

He was unavailable for interviews and gave no other details.

The Runnin’ Rebels (12-9) have lost three in a row.

Jay Spoonhour, an assistant on his father’s staff the last three seasons, will serve as interim coach.

Spoonhour had a 54-31 record at Las Vegas. He led the team to two NIT appearances.

In 19 seasons as a Division I coach, Spoonhour has compiled a record of 373-202 and has reached the NCAA tournament eight times.

He coached at Saint Louis from 1992 to 1999 and at Southwest Missouri State from 1983 to 1992.

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Vermont junior forward Taylor Coppenrath, the nation’s fourth-leading scorer at 23.8 points per game, is probably out for the season because of a broken wrist suffered against Stony Brook on Feb. 11.

He played Sunday against Boston University but experienced discomfort. Tests on Monday revealed the injury.

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Mohamed Diakite and Lamont Hamilton will remain suspended from the St. John’s team through the end of the season.

The players’ status with the team will be reviewed at the end of the semester, the school said.

Diakite and Hamilton were among six players suspended indefinitely for breaking curfew and going to a strip club after a loss at Pittsburgh on Feb. 4.

A woman told police she was raped by St. John’s players she met at the club, but no criminal charges were filed against the players. The woman was later charged with prostitution, attempted extortion and filing fictitious reports.

Tyler Jones was reinstated Friday. Grady Reynolds, Elijah Ingram and Abe Keita are no longer with the program.

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Florida guard Christian Drejer did not travel with the Gators for their game against Georgia on Tuesday night, amid reports that he may leave to play for a professional team in Spain.

Coach Billy Donovan did not immediately return messages left by Associated Press.

Team spokesman Fred Demarest said that Drejer was absent because of personal reasons, and that Drejer and Donovan would meet today.

Drejer was one of the top players in Denmark before going to Florida.