College Basketball

Eligibility issues bench UCF's Rompza, Jeff Jordan

None — The UCF Knights men's basketball team played its first and last exhibition game of the season without many of their biggest names.

The Knights beat West Virginia Tech 81-66 with starting point guard A.J. Rompza, or shooting guard Jeff Jordan who sat out because of NCAA eligibility issues.

Marcus Jordan, P.J. Gaynor and Josh Crittle were all benched for an unspecified violation of team rules.

UCF issued this statement about Rompza and Jordan:

"UCF Athletics announced today that basketball student-athletes A.J. Rompza and Jeff Jordan are being withheld from competition pending resolution of NCAA eligibility matters. These two matters are not related and involve separate eligibility issues. Both Rompza and Jordan remain eligible to practice with the team. Until the NCAA renders its decisions on these matters, there will be no further comment."

With those five players watching from the bench, Orlando native Keith Clanton led the Knights to victory dumping in 28 points and pulling down 15 rebounds. Isaiah Sykes added 18 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists.

UCF opens the regular season at home on Saturday, November 12 against St. Thomas. Two nights later the Knights travel to Tallahassee to take on Florida State.