Five Duquesne basketball players shot; one critical

Sept. 18, 2006 — -- PITTSBURGH -- Three of the five Duquesne basketball players shot early Sunday remained hospitalized early Monday, with the most seriously-injured player "fighting for his life" according to a Duquesne source, ESPN.com's Andy Katz reported. Duquesne coach Everhart reacts

Duquesne coach Ron Everhart was dumbfounded by the shooting of five of his players Sunday. Still, he told ESPN.com's Andy Katz, he was struck by one thing: in the face of senseless violence, his newly-created team banded together.

Sam Ashaolu of Toronto, who, according to multiple sources, was shot in the head, had an "up and down night," as doctors waited for the swelling to go down, according to the source. The bullet was still lodged in Ashaolu's head and his family was by his side. He remained in critical condition at Mercy Hospital.

Stuard Baldonado of Colombia, who remained in serious condition at Mercy Hospital, also still had a bullet in his body. The bullet went through his abdomen and nipped the third lumbar and there was concern about his spine, the source told Katz.

The five players were shot on campus early Sunday after some of them tried to calm a man who apparently had been disruptive at a dance, officials said.

Police searched for the gunman, and the downtown school stepped up its round-the-clock police protection with armed university police officers guarding dormitories and other buildings.

Two players had been walking near a dormitory when they encountered a man who apparently had been disruptive at a student union dance, authorities said. The players attempted to pacify him and walked away but were shot. Players who rushed to their aid were also shot.

Ashaolu, a transfer from Lake Region State College, is a cousin of former Houston Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon. Baldonado, a transfer from Miami Dade College , was considered the school's best recruit.

Also still hospitalized was Kojo Mensah, a guard from New York City who averaged nearly 17 points last season at Siena College before transferring, school officials said at a news conference Sunday.