COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) – The University of Missouri admitted NCAA violations in its men’s basketball program dating to 2011 and banned itself Wednesday from the postseason this year and vacated all 23 wins from the 2013-14 season.

The NCAA is still investigating and Missouri said it was working with the organization in hopes of limiting the punishment to its self-imposed sanctions, which includes the SEC tournament.

“We have faced this issue head-on,” athletic director Mack Rhoades said. “These are not decisions we took lightly. We really felt like it was the right thing to do, and it will help put us in position to move this program forward.”

Missouri was 23-12 in 2013-14, Frank Haith’s final season. Haith left for Tulsa not long after the school received a verbal notice of inquiry from the NCAA in April 2014.

The Tigers won just nine games last season under new coach Kim Anderson and are 8-8 this season, coming off the worst loss in Mizzou Arena history — a 94-61 setback to Arkansas on Tuesday that Anderson said made him “embarrassed.”

“A lot of things run through your head,” Anderson said. “I’m disappointed that the actions of a few individuals have put our program in this type of situation.”

Anderson said he wasn’t aware of the investigation when he was hired and felt bad for forward Ryan Rosburg, the lone senior on the team. Rhoades said he was aware last March when he replaced AD Mike Alden and said he has “worked extensively from Day 1 to resolve this.”

The school hopes the issue will be resolved this spring.

“Every kid’s goal is to go the NCAA Tournament, so obviously when that’s taken away there’s disappointment,” Anderson said. “I think we did the right thing. We felt like it was best to do it now and then move forward and put it behind us.”

Haith was suspended for five games by the NCAA at the start of the 2013-14 season for inadequately monitoring former assistants interactions with a disgraced Miami booster and then trying to cover up a five-figure hush money payment to keep potential violations hidden.

The investigation found that Haith and Miami assistant coach Jake Morton paid Nevin Shapiro $10,000 after he threatened to expose previous improper contact with high school recruits and amateur coaches.

Haith’s attorney, Scott Tompsett, said his client did not learn about the NCAA investigation last February when the NCAA contacted Tulsa to inform the school of it. Tompsett said Haith cooperated fully with the NCAA and has been informed that he will not be charged with any violations or wrongdoing.

“It has been Coach Haith’s position throughout this investigation that he acted appropriately at all times and that he monitored his program and promoted an atmosphere of compliance,” Tompsett said. “The fact that the enforcement staff has not charged Coach Haith with any violations validates our position.”

The Tigers didn’t practice Wednesday and Anderson said he told players to “reset your goals.” He also said there was no need to “sugarcoat” the message.

“Who knows whether we would qualify for the postseason?” Anderson said. “Today, I would say I don’t know.”

Besides the postseason ban, the school has stripped itself of one scholarship this season and a second scholarship no later than the 2017-18 season, plus has restricted recruiting through 2016-17. It also said it would pay a $5,000 fine.

The school permanently banned one unidentified donor who the NCAA said provided impermissible benefits to three players and one recruit in 2013-14. The benefits included compensation for work not done at a business through a summer intern program, along with housing, $520 cash, local transportation, iPads, meals and use of a local gym.

“It is clear from our collaborative investigation with the NCAA that a former member of our athletics staff and members of our donor community violated NCAA bylaws, and we take those actions seriously,” Chancellor Hank Foley said.

A second donor has been banned for two years after providing 11 players and three members of one player’s family reduced rates at a hotel along with meals and a ride on a recreational boat. A student manager also provided transportation for multiple players to the hotel from the campus.

The school was hit with a third major infraction for failing to adequately monitor the internship program.

Two minor infractions were cited. A former associate head coach helped a recruit relocate by providing the phone number of the recruit’s mother to the second donor to arrange for rental housing, and the first donor had multiple impermissible contacts with a recruit.

The school said there is no evidence that any current staff members were aware of the violations.

Anderson said he didn’t think the self-imposed penalties would impact recruiting, then added, “Yeah, it makes it more difficult.”

“This is a great school,” Anderson said. “Obviously, we’re a program that’s rebuilding. The interest level in our program has been very good.”

— Associated Press —

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Arkansas’s first road win of the season was a blowout of historic proportions, 94-61 over Missouri Tuesday night.

It was the Tigers’ worst loss in the 11-year history of Mizzou Arena.

“I’m embarrassed,” Missouri coach Kim Anderson said. “I thought we had played pretty well the other night against Auburn, but tonight, we didn’t respond very well early in the game.”

The Razorbacks shot 62.7 percent from the field, the highest shooting percentage in a Southeastern Conference game in school history.

Moses Kingsley had 24 points, five rebounds and four blocks. Kingsley made 8 of 8 from the field and converted on 8 of 10 free-throw attempts. He also had three assists, matching a career high.

“I thought he dominated the game from start to finish,” Anderson said of Kingsley. “We didn’t have an answer for him. We tried everybody.”

Missouri forward Kevin Puryear defended Kingsley on and off, and was impressed with his abilities.

“He was definitely a presence,” said Puryear. “He’s a good player. We just didn’t do a good enough job containing him inside. When we head to Buck Walton (Arena) we definitely need to pay more attention to that and make him more of a focal point.”

Dusty Hannahs added 20 points on 8 of 10 shooting and Jimmy Whitt scored a career-high 15, including nine in the second half.

Arkansas (9-7, 3-1) didn’t allow a field goal for the first 6:32 of the first half and opened the game on a 13-4 run. Missouri (8-8, 1-2) committed 14 turnovers leading to 23 Arkansas points.

“I thought from start to finish, our guys were really locked in on defense,” Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said. “We continue to really stress our defense. Our defense created some offense for us.”

Terrence Phillips led the way for the Tigers with 16 points. Namon Wright and Tramaine Isabell each had nine points.

The Razorbacks made 8 of 15 from 3-point range while Missouri hit just 3 of 15 from beyond the arc. Arkansas made 5 of 6 3-pointers in the second half, helping them to close the game on a 43-17 run.

“We were very efficient in sharing the basketball,” Mike Anderson said. “When you shoot sixty-something percent on the road, your chances of winning are pretty darn high.”

—

TIP-INS

Arkansas: The Razorbacks are the only Power 5 Conference team with three players averaging more than 15 points per game. Hannahs averages 16.3, Kingsley 16.8 and Anthlon Bell 17.3…Kingsley is the first Razorback in the last 30 years to with eight double-doubles through the first 12 games…Whitt attended Rock Bridge High School in Columbia.

Missouri: Terrence Phillips had a four-game streak of four or more assists snapped…Puryear, Missouri’s leading scorer (12.5 per game) and rebounder (4.9), finished with eight and three… Anderson, who left Missouri to coach Arkansas in 2011, is 4-3 against the Tigers.

UP NEXT

Arkansas visits LSU Saturday.

Missouri visits No. 19 South Carolina Saturday.

— Associated Press —