CLEVELAND — A PSAC-best group of 25 Slippery Rock University student-athletes received Division II Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement Awards recently.

The Rock's total ranked fourth nationally among all NCAA Division II institutions, trailing only Bentley (Mass.) with 92, Seton Hill 90 and Drury (Mo.) with 79.

Three female SRU student-athletes carry a 4.0 grade point average and 28 of The Rock's 75 honorees have a 3.75 GPA or higher.

NEW YORK — Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez was charged with third-degree assault late Wednesday night after scuffling with his father-in-law at Citi Field, police said.Rodriguez was arrested and being held at the ballpark early Thursday, police said. His father-in-law was in a hospital with a scrape on his face and a bump on his head.

NEW YORK — Isiah Thomas will not be returning to the New York Knicks after all.Thomas said in a statement he was declining a position as a consultant with the franchise he ran for 4½ years because it may not be legal.

LOS ANGELES — Southern California freshman running back Dillon Baxter was suspended for the season opener at Hawaii.Trojans coach Lane Kiffin told reporters that Baxter was suspended for violating team rules, but gave no details. Baxter will continue to practice with the team. He was one of the stars of spring practice for USC.