Basketball / Colleges -- Former Asu Players Admit Point-Shaving

PHOENIX - Two former Arizona State players have pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit sports bribery in a basketball point-shaving scheme.

In court documents released today, Stevin "Hedake" Smith Smith and Isaac Burton Jr. admitted taking payoffs for shaving points on four home Arizona State games during the 1993-94 season.

In his plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Smith, the school's No. 2 all-time scorer, said he agreed to fix the games in part to repay gambling debts owed to bookmaker Benny Silman. Silman agreed to pay him $20,000 for each game he threw, Smith said.

In turn, he went to Burton for help fixing the games.

"He told me that since I was the best free-throw shooter on the team and was normally called on to make free throws at the end of the games, that if needed, I was to miss the free throws to make sure we won by that certain amount," Burton said in the plea agreement filed in U.S. District Court in Phoenix.

The charges against Smith and Burton also name Silman, a former partner in a cappuccino stand at America West Arena; Joseph Gagliano Jr., a Phoenix investment adviser and former trader on the Chicago Board of Trade; and Joseph and Dominic Mangiamele. The Arizona Republic identified the Mangiameles as Chicago bookmakers.

The charges say Gagliano, Silman and the Mangiameles conspired with Burton and Smith to make sure Arizona State would win the games by less than the point spread set by oddsmakers.

Burton, who was in Boise, Idaho, last night to play for the Continental Basketball Association's Quad City Thunder, told The Tribune, a suburban Phoenix newspaper, that "all I've got to do is stay focused and think basketball. I don't think about the other stuff at all. I just go out and play."

Smith has been playing in France for the Antibes club.

In March 1994, the Sun Devils were a 10-point favorite over Washington, but $250,000 in bets on the Huskies caused the line to drop to three points. Las Vegas casinos then suspended betting on the game.

The Arizona Republic reported earlier that ASU games against Oregon and Oregon State in January 1994 also were involved. The Republic also said a February game against USC drew similar betting.

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At No. 17 Clemson 78, No. 23 Maryland 65, OT - Clemson (4-2) trailed 65-61 with 1:18 left when Terrell McIntyre hit a long three-pointer and tied it with the second of two free throws with 16 seconds to go. McIntyre, who finished with 21 points, made a three-pointer and had two steals in overtime.

No. 20 Temple 56, at Michigan St. 54 - "Any other coach probably would have taken me out of the game," said Rasheed Brokenborough, whose three-pointer with 52 seconds remaining won it. Brokenborough missed seven of his first eight shots before connecting on the game-winner.

North Carolina St. 71, at No. 22 Georgia Tech 69, OT - C.C. Harrison hit a running 14-footer as time ran out in overtime, and the Wolfpack (4-2, 1-0 ACC) posted its second victory this season over a ranked team. Harrison, who scored 25 points, tied the game by hitting two free throws with 30 seconds left in regulation.

TOP 25 WOMEN

No. 7 North Carolina 90, at Wake Forest 59 - The Tar Heels (5-1, 1-0 ACC) trailed 10-9 in the first half but went on a 15-0 run to take a 35-22 lead at halftime. Tracy Reid scored 20 of her 26 points in the second half.

No. 20 Arkansas 69, at Louisville 57 - Sytia Messer scored seven of Arkansas' last nine points over the final 1:23 as the Razorbacks (7-0) held the Cardinals (2-3) scoreless.

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At Western Washington 96, Cal Poly Pomona 79 - Ryan Kettman, a freshman from Bellingham, scored 18 points to lead the Vikings to an upset over seventh-ranked Pomona in a Division II nonconference game. Eight players scored at least eight points for Western (3-2), which handed the Broncos (5-1) their first loss.

NOTES

-- Senior guard Cindy Blodgett became the all-time top scorer for the University of Maine and the America East as she scored 40 points in an 82-68 victory over Massachusetts.