COLUMBUS, OHIO ? Former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett turned himself in Monday night on charges of robbing two people at gunpoint in an alley behind a bar.

His lawyer, Percy Squire, said his client would be jailed overnight and was set to appear in court today, where he planned to enter a plea of not guilty.

Clarett was sought on two counts of aggravated robbery since early Sunday, when police said he flashed a gun and demanded property from a man and a woman behind the Opium Lounge in downtown Columbus.

Police said he fled with two men in a sport-utility vehicle after he was identified by the bar owner, who happened to come out into the alley. No one was injured.

The 22-year-old former Buckeye star, who helped the team win the national championship in 2002, turned himself in around 9 p.m. Monday at the county jail, Columbus Detective Art Hughes said.

Around the same time Monday, fourth-ranked Ohio State was finishing a 34-20 victory over No. 5 Notre Dame at the Fiesta bowl in Tempe, Ariz.

Clarett sat out the 2003 season when he was charged with misdemeanor falsification for filing a police report claiming that more than $10,000 in clothing, CDs, cash and stereo equipment was stolen from a car he borrowed from a dealership. He later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.

Clarett also unsuccessfully challenged the NFL’s requirement that players wait three years after high school before turning pro in a case that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. He was chosen by the Denver Broncos in last year’s draft, but the team cut him in August.

College Football

Miami fires four aides

Miami – Kick returner Devin Hester chose to skip his senior season and leave Miami on Monday, a decision announced only hours after the Hurricanes fired four assistant coaches following consecutive three-loss seasons. While Hester’s decision wasn’t unexpected, the moves made by head coach Larry Coker stunned most people around the program. He fired offensive line coach Art Kehoe, offensive coordinator Dan Werner, linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves and running backs coach Don Soldinger.

NFL

Draft order set for 2006

New York – The Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers will flip a coin to determine who gets the sixth pick in the 2006 NFL draft and who gets the seventh.

The complete order for the April 29-30 draft was announced Monday, with Houston at No. 1, presumably with the rights to Reggie Bush, the USC running back who is expected to declare his eligibility after Wednesday’s Rose Bowl. The Texans (2-14) officially fired coach Dom Capers on Monday as New Orleans (3-13), which will have the second pick, did with Jim Haslett.

After the Saints come a group of 4-12 teams: Tennessee, the New York Jets and Green Bay, followed by Oakland and San Francisco. The Packers also fired their coach, Mike Sherman.

After the seventh spot, the rest of the order among non-playoff teams is Buffalo, Detroit, Arizona, St. Louis, Cleveland, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Miami, Minnesota, Dallas, San Diego and Kansas City.

College Basketball

Pitt enters, Arizona returns

Another great start by Pittsburgh has the Panthers in the Top 25. A great weekend by Arizona has the Wildcats ranked again.

Pittsburgh, off to a third undefeated run in as many seasons under coach Jamie Dixon, moved into the Associated Press’ men’s basketball poll at No. 22 on Monday.

Arizona, which swept its Pac-10 weekend in Washington, returned to the rankings at No. 21 after a two-week absence that broke the longest regular-season run in poll history.

Duke (12-0) stayed No. 1 for the ninth straight week, with Connecticut and Villanova remaining second and third for the fourth straight poll. Memphis, Florida and Illinois held the fourth through sixth spots for a third straight week.

Women’s Basketball

Top teams still unbeaten

Tennessee keeps answering every challenge to its No. 1 ranking in women’s basketball.

The Lady Vols led the AP poll for the fifth straight week Monday after defeating two more ranked opponents – the 101st time Tennessee has been No. 1. Connecticut is next with 94 appearances in the top spot.

With Tennessee (12-0) setting the pace, the top six teams remained the same after a week in which no one in the Top 25 lost to an unranked opponent.

Kansas University (11-0) received three votes.

NHL

Avs’ May out four weeks

Denver – Colorado Avalanche forward Brad May will miss four to five weeks because of a sprained knee. May was hurt in the second period of Colorado’s 5-2 victory Saturday over the Phoenix Coyotes. He has two goals, two assists and 59 penalty minutes in 34 games.

NBA

Knicks suspend James

New York – The New York Knicks indefinitely suspended Jerome James on Monday for conduct detrimental to the team, saying the center was unprepared to practice Sunday.

The Knicks said they would not comment further on the suspension, and coach Larry Brown would not address James or his status before the Knicks’ game against the Phoenix Suns.

The 7-foot-1 James, who spent the past four seasons with Seattle, has been a disappointment after signing a five-year, $30 million contract with New York. He has been limited to just 14 games because of conditioning and injury issues, averaging 3.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 10.4 minutes.

Wizards recall Blatche

Washington – The Washington Wizards recalled rookie Andray Blatche from the Roanoke (Va.) Dazzle of the D-League on Monday. Blatche was sent Dec. 4 to Roanoke, and he averaged 11.2 points and 6.8 rebounds in six games with the Dazzle.

The 19-year-old Blatche was a second-round pick from South Kent Prep School in Connecticut. He was shot in an apparent carjacking in September and missed all of training camp while recovering from injuries to his chest and forearm.

Olympics

Coach wants quick decision

The U.S. skeleton coach accused of sexual harassment asked the sport’s governing body Monday to decide quickly whether he could accompany the national team later this week to Europe.

Tim Nardiello has been on paid administrative leave since Saturday while the allegations made against him are investigated.

His attorney, James Brooks, sent a three-page letter to U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation president Jim Shea Sr. requesting the federation to rule by Wednesday.

Federation officials had no immediate comment, saying they had not reviewed the letter. Nardiello also declined comment Monday.

Meanwhile, with concern that different governing bodies could reach different conclusions and create a potentially embarrassing situation, the USBSF asked the U.S. Olympic Committee to oversee the investigation.

The USOC, however, declined the request and would conduct a separate inquiry, spokesman Darryl Seibel said.