A federal inquiry into alleged match-fixing within men’s college basketball has now extended to at least three institutions — Eastern Michigan, North Carolina A&T, and Mississippi Valley State.
According to Sports Illustrated, sources indicate that at least one game involving North Carolina A&T is being scrutinised due to irregular betting activity. A contest against Delaware on 9 January raised concerns when the first-half point spread moved unexpectedly.
Initially, Delaware was favoured by two points, but the line shifted to 3.5, a jump considered disproportionate compared to the full-game spread of 4.5 points.
This shift triggered alerts from betting monitoring firms. Delaware was ahead by six points at halftime and ultimately secured a 98-88 victory.
Three North Carolina A&T players, including standout scorers Landon Glasper and Ryan Forrest, were suspended last week for breaching team rules.
However, head coach Monte Ross denied any connection between their suspensions and the ongoing gambling investigation.
Additionally, a university athletics spokesperson confirmed that neither the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) nor federal authorities had questioned A&T players regarding betting violations.
Eastern Michigan’s basketball program also came under investigation in mid-January after an integrity monitoring firm flagged suspicious wagering activity during a game against Central Michigan.
The company, Integrity Compliance 360, detected significant bets being placed on Central Michigan covering the first-half spread.
A separate game involving Eastern Michigan against Wright State on 21 December also set off alerts due to irregular betting patterns.
Mississippi Valley State was identified in the investigation through an ESPN report. Sources suggest that as the probe advances, more schools could be implicated, potentially bringing the total to seven or more.
Match-fixing detectors at work
The inquiry is being conducted by the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, which is also examining a Temple University game from last March.
That game, where Temple faced the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s UAB Blazers, saw an unusual surge in the first-half betting line, shifting dramatically from UAB being favoured by 1.5 points to eight points.
The sharp movement raised red flags for gambling monitoring services, prompting some sportsbooks to suspend betting on the matchup. UAB led by 15 points at halftime and ultimately secured a 100-72 win.
A key figure in the Temple-related inquiry is former guard Hysier “Fabb” Miller, who was the team’s leading scorer last season. In the UAB game, Miller recorded eight points along with three turnovers.
Miller later transferred to Virginia Tech but was dismissed before the season began due to undisclosed reasons that reportedly predated his enrolment.
His attorney confirmed that he participated in a five-hour interview with NCAA investigators in the fall.
The NCAA acknowledged awareness of the investigation but refrained from commenting on specific cases.
In a statement, the organisation reaffirmed its commitment to preserving the integrity of college athletics and emphasised its collaboration with monitoring services and regulatory authorities.
Expanding investigations
The ongoing federal probe appears to be linked to a broader investigation that previously ensnared former NBA player Jontay Porter.
He received a lifetime ban from the league last year after admitting to deliberately manipulating his performance in games to influence betting outcomes.
Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier is also under scrutiny for allegedly altering his play in a 2023 game while playing for the Charlotte Hornets.
Authorities are further investigating individuals responsible for placing bets connected to these schemes. At least four men have been arrested in relation to the Porter case, facing charges such as conspiracy and wire fraud.
One of the individuals, Shane Hennen, was taken into custody at Harry Reid International Airport in January while attempting to board a one-way flight to Colombia. He was found carrying multiple mobile phones and nearly $10,000 in cash.
Another suspect, Long Phi “Bruce” Pham, was apprehended in New York last June while trying to board a flight to Australia.
Court documents revealed that Pham was in possession of $12,000 in cash, two cashier’s checks totalling $80,000, and several betting slips. He later entered a guilty plea for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Two other individuals, Timothy McCormack from New York and Mahmud Mollah from Pennsylvania, have also been charged in connection with the case.
With multiple jurisdictions involved and a grand jury convened, the investigation’s reach is expected to grow even further.