Clemons' girlfriend says NCAA wants to talk to her

ST. LOUIS -- The NCAA wants to talk to the ex-girlfriend of former Missouri guard Ricky Clemons, apparently about her allegations that Clemons received payments and clothing and was given the answers to a test while at a community college, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Wednesday.

The woman, Jessica Bunge, has said in depositions and interviews that Clemons was routinely given money by someone within the basketball program; that coach Quin Snyder gave Clemons clothing; and that she saw Clemons copy the answers to a test at a Barton County, Kan., community college.

"I haven't talked to the NCAA yet, but I plan to call them back"soon, she told the newspaper. "I guess all I can really do is tell them what I know."

Bunge said the NCAA had called in the last couple of weeks but renewed efforts, through her father, Jim, following last week's release of depositions related to Clemons' court case in which he is accused of choking Bunge.

Assistant coach Lane Odom denied in his deposition that he gave Clemons money. Bunge has said she did not name Odom as the source of the money, but rather another person within the program.

Snyder said in his deposition he provided Clemons with a pair of shoes, some sandals and a pair of pants once.

Missouri is conducting its own investigation. Bunge said she would speak with Missouri officials if they called.

"We're just talking to anybody we think might have information to help us along with it," associate athletic director Sarah Reesman said. Missouri had not been contacted by anyone from the NCAA, Reesman said. By policy, the NCAA does not comment on specific cases.

In a statement, Missouri athletic director Mike Alden said: "We will continue to look into these matters internally, and I have complete confidence in our compliance staff and in the fact that we will conduct a thorough investigation into these issues.

"We have built a solid foundation of honesty and integrity here at the University of Missouri and will continue to hold our staff and our student-athletes to high expectations of conduct. After a complete review of the information we gather, we will act accordingly."

The allegations surfaced in questions asked during the March depositions by Boone County Prosecutor Kevin Crane.

Clemons was arrested after a January incident in which Bunge alleged the athlete choked her in a headlock, yanked her hair and wouldn't allow her to leave his Columbia apartment for about an hour after they argued.

In various law enforcement interviews, Bunge said she met Clemons last summer when he arrived in Columbia, that he lived in her apartment before getting his own place, and that he had choked her before and once, in a rage, broke a door at her residence.

Bunge now attends school in the Chicago area.

In an interview in the Kansas City Star on Wednesday, Alden said he was frustrated by the Clemons affair but stood behind Snyder, though he said the two hadn't spoken since Snyder acknowledged giving Clemons clothing and shoes.

"As far as my confidence in Quin and what he's doing, it's still the same," Alden told the Star. "I know he's working hard. I know he's trying to do the right things to build the program the way it ought to be. At this time, he hasn't given me any reason to believe he doesn't have it going in the right direction.

"We've got to learn, though, from these mistakes that have occurred."

Snyder is in the Dominican Republic serving as an assistant coach for the U.S. men's team in the Pan American Games and could visit with Alden when he returns, possibly as early as Thursday.