2 South Florida players left off flight home after game

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) South Florida interim basketball coach Murry Bartow apologized for an ''unfortunate circumstance'' that resulted in two of his players being left off the team's flight home after a loss to Tulsa.

Bartow said in a statement Saturday two players ''were separated from the rest of our team'' when the Bulls boarded a connecting flight in Houston after the Thursday night game.

Bartow said the staff recognized two players were missing as the plane was leaving the gate ''and not in time to get the players on the commercial flight.'' Bartow said he notified the players as soon as possible and got them on the next available flight to Tampa.

Bartow said both players arrived safely in Tampa later that afternoon and a staff member met them at the airport.

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