Mount St. Mary's Hoops Coach On Leave

EMMITSBURG, Md. (AP) -- Mount St. Mary's University says it has placed men's basketball head coach Robert Burke on paid administrative leave at his request.

A spokesman for the school in Emmitsburg declined on Thursday to specify the reason for Burke's request. Spokesman Duffy Ross says the second-year coach was granted the leave Wednesday, a day after he met with university officials.

Ross says it's a personnel matter and the school won't comment further.

Assistant coach Matt Henry has been appointed acting head coach.

The development comes at a critical time for the Mountaineers, who are 6-19 overall and 4-10 in the Northeast Conference.

Another loss would probably eliminate them from the NEC tournament after six straight appearances.

The Mountaineers went 11-21 overall, and 9-9 in the NEC, in their first year under Burke.

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