The lawyer for Minnesota’s Reggie Lynch said Lynch “categorically denies” allegations of sexual misconduct lodged against him by two women.

Attorney Ryan Pacyga said at a news conference Wednesday that the 23-year-old senior center never had sexual contact with either woman.

The university’s equal-opportunity office recommended Lynch’s expulsion Jan. 3 after finding him responsible for sexual misconduct in an alleged assault off campus April 7, 2016. The office issued that finding the same day as a separate recommendation that Lynch be suspended and barred from campus until 2020 due to an unrelated incident alleged to have happened three weeks later in his dorm room.

Lynch was suspended from games last week but was allowed to continue practicing while he appeals.

Longhorns guard ill: Texas announced sophomore guard Andrew Jones has leukemia and has started treatment.

Jones was the Longhorns’ leading scorer before he was sidelined by a broken wrist. He played sparingly in his return after complaining of low energy and was sent for tests.

Jones considered leaving Texas for the NBA draft after his freshman season but opted to return to school.

Hoosiers lose center: Indiana center De’Ron Davis will miss the rest of the season after having surgery for a torn Achilles tendon.

Coach Archie Miller said Davis injured his lower right leg Jan. 4 at practice during a non-contact drill.

The 6-foot-10 sophomore had started each of the Hoosiers’ first 15 games. He was averaging 9.6 points and 4.3 rebounds while shooting 61.5 percent from the field, second in the Big Ten.

Rutgers extends Pikiell: Rutgers gave coach Steve Pikiell a three-year contract extension through the 2023-24 season.

Pikiell, who’s in his second season with the Scarlet Knights, will be guaranteed $15.05 million over the next five seasons. He will also receive performance bonuses.

AP