College Hoops Scandal: 3 Teams Caught in Game-Fixing Scheme!

A federal inquiry into suspected match-fixing, which has implicated several NBA players, is now examining multiple NCAA men’s basketball teams. This season’s matches involving Eastern Michigan and North Carolina A&T have come under investigation, according to Sports Illustrated. Additionally, ESPN reported on Monday that Mississippi Valley State is also being looked into as part of the investigation.

On Thursday, North Carolina A&T benched three players due to what the school described as a breach of team regulations, including key players Landon Glasper and Ryan Forrest. When questioned if these suspensions were connected to the gambling investigation, head coach Monte Ross denied any correlation in a phone interview with SI on Friday, stating, “That is not accurate,” before abruptly ending the call. An official from the athletic department also informed SI on Friday that neither the NCAA nor federal authorities had approached any of North Carolina A&T’s players concerning possible gambling infractions.

Nonetheless, it has been reported that at least one North Carolina A&T game this season is under investigation for unusual betting patterns. ESPN highlighted the Aggies’ January 9 game against Delaware, noting that the betting line for the first half shifted significantly, with Delaware moving from a two-point favorite to a 3.5-point favorite, a change that was disproportionate to the full game spread of 4.5 points, catching the eye of gambling monitors.

Delaware was ahead by six points at halftime, covering the first-half spread, and ultimately won the match 98–88, with a ten-point margin.

In mid-January, unusual betting on a game between Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan was flagged by ESPN due to large bets placed on Central Michigan to beat the first-half spread. The gambling watchdog firm Integrity Compliance 360 also issued a warning about suspicious betting in the Wright State vs. Eastern Michigan game on December 21.

ESPN identified Mississippi Valley State as another college under the microscope. According to multiple sources who spoke to SI, the number of institutions involved could grow to seven or more as the investigation continues to unfold at both federal and NCAA levels.

SI recently reported that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is overseeing an investigation into suspicious betting on at least one Temple men’s basketball game last March against UAB. In that match, the betting line for the first half saw an unusual jump, leading U.S. Integrity, a monitoring service, to issue an alert. Some betting platforms even stopped taking bets on the game, which UAB won decisively, 100–72, after leading by 15 points at halftime.

The focus of that investigation was former Temple guard Hysier “Fabb” Miller, who was the team’s top scorer last season. Miller, who had eight points and three turnovers in the game, transferred to Virginia Tech but was dismissed before the current season due to pre-enrollment issues, according to the school. His attorney revealed that Miller had participated in a five-hour interview with NCAA Enforcement officials last fall.

“The NCAA takes sports betting very seriously and is dedicated to safeguarding the well-being of student-athletes and the integrity of sports competitions,” stated the NCAA in a response to SI last week. “The Association collaborates with integrity monitoring services, state regulators, and other stakeholders to undertake thorough investigations whenever suspicious betting reports are received. Owing to confidentiality rules established by NCAA member institutions, the NCAA will not discuss ongoing, pending, or potential investigations.”

Former NBA player Jontay Porter has admitted to deliberately underperforming in games last season for betting purposes, and current NBA player Terry Rozier is being investigated for allegedly doing the same in a 2023 game while playing for the Charlotte Hornets. People who placed bets involving these players are also under scrutiny for potentially manipulating the outcomes of college games, as per sources consulted by SI.

Beyond Porter, who was indicted for conspiracy in July, at least four other individuals have been arrested in connection with his case.

In January, Shane Hennen was apprehended at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas as he attempted to leave the country on a one-way ticket to Colombia. At the time of his arrest, he was found carrying multiple cellphones and nearly $10,000 in cash, according to a court document.

Another individual linked to the Porter case, Long Phi “Bruce” Pham, was arrested last June while trying to board a flight to Australia from New York City. Government documents revealed that Pham was in possession of about $12,000 in cash, two cashier’s checks totaling $80,000, various betting slips, and three cellphones. Pham later pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy charges in October.

Timothy McCormack from New York and Mahmud Mollah from Lansdale, Pa., have also been charged in relation to the Porter case.