BRIEFS

Clemson's Harper has shoulder surgery

Clemson starting quarterback Cullen Harper and two other Tigers had minor surgeries Monday, but all of them should be back in time to begin bowl practice, the school said.

Harper had arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder. The junior has completed 66.3 percent of his passes this season for 2,658 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Offensive lineman Chris McDuffie had arthroscopic surgery on an elbow Monday, and defensive tackle Jarvis Jenkins had surgery on his wrist.

Nutt hired

by Ole Miss

Houston Nutt wasn't out of a job for long: He was hired as Mississippi's football coach just hours after resigning at Arkansas.

Nutt agreed to a contract late Monday night, and replaces Ed Orgeron, who was fired Saturday after the Rebels lost to rival Mississippi State and finished 3-9.

The hiring of Nutt was confirmed by a person close to the program who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the announcement had not yet been made.

Nutt resigned even though the Razorbacks upset then-No. 1 LSU 50-48 in triple overtime last week.

Ole Miss planned an announcement on its coaching situation later Tuesday.

Ole Miss was searching for a proven winner after firing coach Orgeron.

Reid scores

29 in loss

Former Gaffney High standout AZ Reid scored a game-high 29 points and nine rebounds in High Point's loss to Gardner-Webb on Tuesday. Reid hit 12 of his 23 field goal attempts, including a 3-pointer.

Mars Hill tops

Lady Saints

Ariel Okunowo hit a three-pointer to put Mars Hill up for good en route to a 66-55 victory over visiting Limestone on Tuesday.

Monica Adams paced the Lady Saints with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Clemson holds

off Purdue

K.C. Rivers wasn't sure who would make up for the scoring and rebounding usually provided by injured Clemson teammate James Mays.

So Rivers decided to do both himself.

He finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, hitting a floater with 31.2 seconds to go that broke a tie and led No. 18 Clemson to a 61-58 victory over Purdue in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Tuesday night.

''Without Mays,'' Rivers said, ''I had to fill the void.''

It took some time for the Tigers (6- 0) to figure that out.

Mays fell hard on his hip Saturday in a win over Gardner-Webb. He said before the Purdue game he was diagnosed with a fracture and expected to miss four to six weeks.

Clemson coach Oliver Purnell wouldn't confirm Mays' assessment, saying he wanted to wait on results Wednesday from two bone scans.

''He doesn't know yet,'' Purnell said about his senior forward.

Granard nips

McCracken

The Granard Warriors opened the season in winning fashion by nipping McCracken, 51-50, on Monday.

Ron Best paced the Warriors with 16 points while Zac Smith fired in 13. Quinshad Davis hauled down a game-high 15 rebounds.

"We have a very young team that will get better," said Granard coach Bobby Rodgers. "The kids are working hard and want to be an elite bunch by the end of the season."

The Warriors, 1-0, will travel to Whitlock on Thursday.