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Former Ohio, Western Carolina hoops coach Larry Hunter dies

CARY, N.C. (AP) - Former Ohio and Western Carolina coach Larry Hunter has died.

Western Carolina spokesman Daniel Hooker said Hunter's wife Mary told him the coach died Friday at a Cary hospital after suffering a stroke earlier in the week. He was 68 and had stepped down at Western Carolina in March after his team went 13-19.

Hunter won 702 career games, including 397 in Division I during 12 seasons at Ohio and 13 at Western Carolina. He also was the head coach at Division III Wittenberg from 1976-89.

His only NCAA Tournament appearance as a Division I head coach came in 1994 with the Bobcats and future NBA player Gary Trent. Ohio lost 84-72 to Bob Knight-coached Indiana.

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FILE - In this Dec. 15, 2012, file photo, Western Carolina head coach Larry Hunter shakes hands with Georgetown players after his team lost 81-68 in an NCAA college basketball game at the Verizon Center in Washington. Western Carolina spokesman Daniel Hooker said Hunter's wife Mary told him the coach died Friday, May 4, 2018, at a Cary hospital after suffering a stroke earlier in the week. He was 68 and had stepped down at Western Carolina in March after his team went 13-19. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) The Associated Press