Sports
Inside six college basketball games the feds say were fixed
On March 5, 2024, in Buffalo, Chicago and Fort Wayne, Indiana, men’s college basketball players on three different teams were preparing to do the exact same thing: play badly in their games on purpose to help bettors win, federal prosecutors say.
In a 70-page indictment unsealed Thursday, federal prosecutors allege that a gambling ring bribed 39 NCAA basketball players on 17 Division I basketball teams to fix dozens of games over the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
While it’s unclear how much was bet overall, the indictment shows the gambling ring wagered at least $3.6 million on the first-half and full-game spreads of college games. The two games that saw the most money wagered were $458,000 on Towson to cover the first-half spread against North Carolina A&T on Feb. 29, 2024, and $424,000 on Kent State to cover the first-half spread against Buffalo on Feb. 27, 2024. Both bets won.
Here’s a closer look at six games the feds say were fixed:
Robert Morris vs. Northern Kentucky (Feb. 28, 2024)
The fixers allegedly recruited Robert Morris forward Markeese Hastings and two other Colonials players, with one of the fixers texting another, “Got the RMU boys ready, waiting on you.”
The sportsbooks had Northern Kentucky favored by 1.5 in the first half of the game at UPMC Events Center in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. The fixers bet at least $256,000 on Northern Kentucky to cover the first-half spread.
The players all underperformed, and the gambling ring cleaned up, prosecutors say. Robert Morris trailed 42-23 at halftime but closed the deficit in the second half to ultimately lose 70-60.
The next day, the fixers were arranging to meet Hastings near a hotel in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where Robert Morris was playing its next game, to deliver the payout. Hastings allegedly texted: “We might as well do the next one too … [this] was too easy.”
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Feds say Northern Kentucky-Robert Morris game in 2024 part of point-shaving scheme
According to the federal indictment, the fixers recruited forward Markeese Hastings and two other unnamed Robert Morris players to fix the first half of a game against Northern Kentucky on Feb. 28, 2024.
The next week, Robert Morris played Purdue-Fort Wayne, which was favored by 7 in the first half. The gambling ring bet $50,000 plus parlays on Purdue-Fort Wayne, which led 46-28 at half. Apparently, the players’ cut came in at more than expected, according to the indictment.
“Y’all gave me a extra band [$1,000],” Hastings allegedly told a fixer. “I [don’t] know if that was on purpose or not. Unless bro counted wrong lol but I doubt it.”
Nicholls State vs. McNeese State (Feb. 17, 2024)
In the game at Stopher Gymnasium in Thibodaux, Louisiana, McNeese State was favored by 12 points over Nicholls State.
According to the indictment, Nicholls State forwards Oumar Koureissi and Diante Smith agreed to underperform in the game. The betting ring wagered at least $100,000 on McNeese State at sportsbooks across the country and abroad, mostly on the full-game spread, the documents say.
Koureissi did not score in the game, and McNeese State won 74-47, easily covering the spread.
According to the indictment: “Shortly after this game, defendant Jalen Smith traveled to Louisiana to arrange for the delivery of approximately $32,000 in cash to defendant Oumar Koureissi and Diante Smith as bribe payments for their roles in fixing the game against McNeese State.
“In arranging for this delivery, defendant Smith texted with defendant Koureissi and Diante Smith, advising them that the ‘bread,’ or bribe payment, would be delivered by an individual driving a truck,” the indictment reads. Koureissi also said in texts and other communications that he would help Jalen Smith recruit other players for the scheme, according to the documents.
Georgetown vs. DePaul (Feb. 24, 2024)
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DePaul-Georgetown game in 2024 allegedly part of illegal betting scheme
Fixers allegedly agreed with several DePaul players – Jalen Terry, Da’Sean Nelson, Mac Etienne and a fourth unnamed player – to fix the first half of a Feb. 24, 2024, game against Georgetown.
In late February, fixers agreed with several DePaul players — Jalen Terry, Da’Sean Nelson, Micawber Etienne and a fourth unnamed player — to fix the first half of the upcoming Georgetown game so DePaul did not cover, according to the indictment. Georgetown was favored by 2.5 at sportsbooks across the country.
The gambling ring bet about $27,000 on the first-half result. Georgetown led 41-28 at halftime.
“Around halftime of this game, when it was clear that the point-shaving scheme was succeeding, defendant Jalen Smith texted Etienne about arranging to pay the bribe money and complimented defendants Terry and Nelson for underperforming as they had agreed: ‘l love Jalen terry he perfected his job . . . Sh-t Nelson snapped too,'” the indictment says.
In the second half, DePaul “played substantially better,” prosecutors said, and Georgetown ended up winning 77-76.
Terry, who did not score in the first half, notched 16 in the second half.
Soon after, prosecutors said, the fixers went to Chicago to deliver $40,000 in cash to the DePaul players, and Etienne texted one of the fixers, “[J]ust hit me we got another game this weekend.”
The players also allegedly underperformed in games against Butler and St. John’s the following week. All the bets, totaling nearly $200,000, paid off, and the players received tens of thousands, prosecutors said.
Terry and Nelson later continued the scheme after they transferred to Eastern Michigan in the 2024-25 season, according to the indictment. One of the fixers told Terry to recruit other teammates: “Need all yall like last year and it’s a lock money super duper good let’s work.”
Tulane vs. East Carolina (Feb. 18, 2024)
East Carolina was favored by 2.5 points over Tulane at Minges Coliseum in Greenville, North Carolina. Prosecutors say fixers had recruited Tulane forward Kevin Cross during a video call and offered him $30,000 to underperform.
According to prosecutors, the gambling ring bet at least $140,000 on East Carolina to cover the full-game spread.
On the day of the game, one of the defendants, Marves Fairley, texted an associate, “‘ln the car with the guys . . . Be ready to bet this college game that come on in two hrs. . Tulane/East Carolina,'” the indictment alleges. “Later in this text exchange, Fairley agreed that the game was ‘one of those 100%” guaranteed games and said, ‘I got total of 200k [$220,000]’ in wagers on the game.”
Cross scored four points in the game, well below his 17.5-point season average, and East Carolina won 81-67.
Soon after, the fixers “arranged to deliver approximately $30,000 in cash” to Cross.
The indictment says defendants attempted to use Cross to fix another game, Tulane’s March 2, 2024, game against Florida Atlantic, which was favored by 15 points but won by only six. Cross had 14 points and three rebounds in the loss.
The gambling ring lost about $200,000 on the Florida Atlantic game, prosecutors said.
Fordham vs. Duquesne (Feb. 23, 2024)
Jalen Smith, one of the alleged fixers who worked with local basketball players in North Carolina, recruited Fordham forward Elijah Gray through mutual connections in the basketball community in their home state, according to the indictment. Gray was offered $10,000 to $15,000 to underperform in the Duquesne game. During a video call, Gray agreed to also recruit a teammate, identified as “Person 4” in the scheme, prosecutors alleged.
In the game at Rose Hill Gymnasium in the Bronx, Duquesne was favored by 3.5 points. The gambling ring had bet about $195,000 on Duquesne to cover the spread.
Both Gray and the other player scored under their season averages, with Gray scoring three points, but Fordham won 79-67, meaning the bets lost.
Afterward, Smith texted with Gray and the teammate about the outcome. “Gray told defendant Smith, ‘I tried,’ and noted that the Duquesne players were ‘not hoopin,’ or played poorly, making it harder for Duquesne to cover the spread.”
Kennesaw State vs. Queens (March 1, 2024)
0:30
Feds say Kennesaw State-Queens College game in 2024 part of point-shaving scheme
According to the federal indictment, Kennesaw State guard Simeon Cottle, forward Demond Robinson and a third player were bribed in a 2024 game against Queens, which was favored by 1.5 points in the first half and led 52-39 at halftime.
The fixers first recruited Kennesaw State star Simeon Cottle to the scheme in February 2024, and enlisted him to recruit teammate Demond Robinson and another unnamed player to join them, according to the indictment.
Queens was favored by 1.5 in the first half over Kennesaw State in the game at Curry Arena in Charlotte. Beforehand, the gamblers allegedly placed $20,000 on Queens to cover, prosecutors said.
“Queens ny first half,” one of the defendants allegedly texted a co-conspirator.
That day fixer Jalen Smith texted Cottle a picture of about $100,000 in cash that he was carrying on a plane, “acknowledging the large amount of money at stake in the point-shaving scheme and defendant Smith’s commitment to making bribe payments to the Kennesaw State players.”
Queens more than covered the spread, winning the first half 52-39. Kennesaw won the second half 43-39 but lost the game 91-82. Cottle, who had no points in the first half, scored 13 in the second.
The next day, according to the indictment, Cottle gave Smith an address for delivery of the bribes on campus and received $40,000 in cash for him and his two teammates.
That November, prosecutors say, Cottle told Smith he was trying to recruit other teammates, and Smith “offered to ‘flash 200k or sumn [sic] to help persuade.” Cottle allegedly responded that the other players were not interested.
TOULOUSE:
Clermont stunned Toulouse 27–24 on Sunday to hand the Top 14 leaders their first home defeat in nearly a year.
Toulouse still have a 12-point cushion over their closest challengers Pau at the top of the table, but this result showed coach Ugo Mola and his staff have work to do before the end of the season.
“It’s a bit more than just a reminder. We’ll take the time to analyse this in order to come back with a different mindset,” Mola said.
Clermont, on the other hand, climbed to fifth place with 61 points, cementing their status as serious contenders for a playoff spot.
Toulouse had not lost at home since May 17, 2025, but perhaps it was the the sight of France superstar Antoine Dupont on the bench or their unfamiliar beige jerseys — matching those worn by the city’s football team the same weekend — that upset the league leaders.
They began smoothly enough as Teddy Thomas crossed the try line after just 42 seconds, superbly set up by Romain Ntamack.
The prospect of a one-sided match grew when Emmanuel Meafou powered over in the ninth minute, and then Paul Graou, in his 100th appearance for Toulouse, made it 21–0 after just 10 minutes.
But Toulouse lost their grip on the game.
Second-rower Marcos Kremer picked up an orange card and a 20-minute suspension and Harry Plummer was shown a yellow — both for head contact with Kalvin Gourgues — allowing Clermont to work their way back into the match, relying on solid set pieces and Toulouse’s many errors.
Leon Darricarrere got Clermont back on track before captain Baptiste Jauneau brought his team within seven points in the 31st minute.
After the break, prop Giga Tutisani helped Clermont close the gap to just three points and their iron defence, combined with Toulouse’s indiscipline, then turned the match on its head, with New Zealand kicker Harry Plummer kicking two penalties to give his side the lead.
Clumsy and lacking inspiration, Toulouse squandered chances in the opposition 22 and ultimately had to concede defeat.
Sports
Diego Pavia accepts Ravens rookie minicamp invite after making unfortunate NFL Draft history: reports
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Diego Pavia, the polarizing former Vanderbilt quarterback who was runner-up in Heisman voting last season, has reportedly found a home in the NFL after going undrafted this weekend.
Pavia accepted an invitation to the Baltimore Ravens’ rookie minicamp on a tryout basis, per multiple reports. He doesn’t have a spot on the roster yet, but it’s a start as he looks to crack into the NFL with Baltimore.
Of course, Lamar Jackson, the two-time MVP quarterback, is cemented as the team’s starting quarterback, but perhaps Pavia can stand out enough in rookie minicamp to earn an invitation to training camp this summer.
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Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Diego Pavia throws a pass against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first quarter during the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium on Dec. 31, 2025. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)
Pavia was not expecting to be undrafted this weekend, but he became the first Heisman Trophy finalist since 2014 to not hear his name called through the seven rounds in Pittsburgh.
Pavia won the SEC Offensive Player of the Year and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award for best upperclassman quarterback after throwing for 3,539 passing yards and 29 touchdowns, both of which single-season school records, to give the Commodores its first-ever 10-win season.
Vanderbilt just missed out on the College Football Playoff after finishing 10-3.
POLARIZING COLLEGE FOOTBALL STAR, HEISMAN TROPHY FINALIST GOES UNDRAFTED
Pavia ultimately finished second in Heisman voting to Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza – the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft by the Las Vegas Raiders. So, what ultimately led to Pavia not getting drafted?
While his personality may have factored in, Pavia’s official height at the NFL Scouting Combine turned some heads. Vanderbilt had him listed at 6-foot, but he was measured at 5-foot-9 7/8, which would make him the shortest quarterback in the NFL if he were to step foot on the gridiron today. The average height is 6-foot-2 for an NFL quarterback.
However, those shorter than the average have seen success, including Minnesota Vikings newest member, Kyler Murray, who went first overall to the Arizona Cardinals in 2019 coming out of Oklahoma. He’s listed at 5-foot-10.
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia celebrates after the team’s win against Kentucky at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., on Nov. 22, 2025. (Mark Zaleski/The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Pavia barked back at critics during the Senior Bowl in January regarding his height.
“Yeah, my size has been doubted my whole life,” he said at the time, via AL.com. “I feel like the only thing the NFL cares about is can you win, and I view myself as a winner. I’ve been fortunate with all these great teams that I’ve had — we’ve never had a losing season. So that’s something to look forward to, I hope, for the rest of my career, that’s how it’s going to be.
“I feel like God has blessed me in so many ways to be a connector, and I feel like that’s one of my superpowers that I’ve got — I can connect. We unite, and then once you unite, you want to play for one another, and once you give 120% effort, there’s no one that can stop your team.”
Pavia’s personality, viewed by some as more cocky than confident, may have played a factor as well. After finishing runner-up to Mendoza in Heisman voting, Pavia was spotted at a New York City nightclub next to a sign that read, “F— Indiana.” Then, he posted on social media a photo with friends and a caption that read, “F— ALL THE VOTERS, BUT…FAMILY FOR LIFE.”
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia throws a football during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., on Feb. 28, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
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Pavia later apologized for his decision to post that on his socials.
No matter the case, Pavia has a shot now with the Ravens and new head coach Jesse Minter, as he aims to show enough to join the quarterbacks group in training camp. Other than Jackson, the Ravens have Tyler “Snoop” Huntley on the roster to start the season.
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Trevor Bauer, the former Cy Young Award winner and MLB All-Star, tossed a no-hitter for the independent Long Island Ducks in a 13-0 win over the Lancaster Stormers on Sunday afternoon at Penn Medicine Park in Pennsylvania.
It was just Bauer’s second start in the United States since 2021, and he faced just one batter over the minimum in a scheduled seven-inning game of a doubleheader against the Stormers.
Bauer threw 84 pitches, striking out seven hitters and walking just one to lose out on the perfect game.
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Trevor Bauer smiles after pitching no-hitter for Long Island Ducks on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Jordan McGregor)
But Bauer unleashed a roar on the mound after a called strike three to notch the third no-hitter in Ducks history.
Combined with his first outing for the Ducks on April 21, Bauer has a strong 1.64 ERA to start the season in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB), which is a “Professional Partner League” of MLB.
Fans might have been supporting the opposing Stormers, but they understood what was at stake as Bauer was mowing down hitters throughout his start. They were even heard chanting his name at one point, hoping he could keep his hitless streak alive.
After the game, Bauer returned the favor for those at the Pennsylvania ballpark, signing autographs and taking pictures with fans after entering his name into the Ducks’ record books.
TREVOR BAUER SIGNS WITH PRO BASEBALL TEAM IN UNITED STATES AMID MLB RETURN HOPES
“I’m looking forward to competing in front of U.S. fans again this season,” said Bauer when he signed with the Ducks earlier this month. “The Ducks have had some incredible players come through their organization, and I’m excited to be part of that tradition.”
Ex-MLB stars like Dontrelle Willis, Daniel Murphy, Rich Hill and Eric Gagne have played for the Ducks in the past. New York Mets legends Gary Carter and Bud Harrelson both managed the team, with the latter also being a part-owner.
Bauer’s first start for the Ducks impressed an AL team scout in attendance, saying he was pretty impressed by Bauer’s arsenal on the bump.
“He showed flashes of the guy he used to be and a guy who can help a club,” the scout told the New York Post. “He went out and handled himself well. He showed flashes of the breaking ball he had in the past. Certainly the velocity is not what it once was, but it’s still solid, mostly 92-94. He didn’t throw the ball particularly well on the inside part of the plate with his fastball, but I think it was a really good first outing. You’d expected him to get sharper and probably tick up in velocity.
Trevor Bauer and catcher high-five after finish inning for Long Island Ducks in no-hit bid on Sunday April 26, 2026. (Jordan McGregor)
“You’re talking about a guy who was at the top of the game. Is he back there? No, but he looked like a guy who could go out and compete.”
Bauer pitched in Japan in both 2023 and 2025, while a stint in Mexico came in 2024. He pitched to a 2.59 ERA and 9.2 K/9 in Japan in 2023, and in Mexico, those numbers improved to 2.48 and 13.0. Last year in Japan, though, his ERA shot up to 4.41, and he struck out just 8.2 batters per nine innings.
This June will mark five years since Bauer, as the reigning Cy Young Award winner, last appeared in an MLB game. On June 28 of that year, he tossed six innings of two-run ball while striking out eight batters, recording the win.
Two days later, Bauer was hit with sexual assault allegations, which eventually led to a 324-game suspension (the equivalent of two seasons). It was eventually reduced to 184 games for violating the league’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.
Bauer has maintained his innocence, settling with one accuser while another is facing 16 years in prison after being charged with fraud for faking a pregnancy and asking Bauer for money for an abortion.
Trevor Bauer pitches for Long Island Ducks during no-hitter on Sunday, April 26, 2026. (Jordan McGregor)
Bauer and Lindsey Hill, who accused the pitcher of beating and sexually abusing her in 2021, settled their case in late 2023. Bauer revealed texts from Hill, who said that Bauer would be her “next victim,” among other damning messages. Hill has since said that MLB has more evidence of Bauer’s alleged misconduct.
Last June, Hill was ordered to pay Bauer more than $300,000 for violating settlement terms. Hill breached their settlement agreement with each other by discussing Bauer on podcasts and in public appearances, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Nearly two years ago, Bauer said he “may have no other choice” but to sue Major League Baseball “if I continue being kept out” of the league. Bauer has said he’d “play for the league minimum,” but he has yet to sign with an MLB team.
“Anyone that’s willing to sit down with me and listen: I’d like to play the second half of my career in a better way than I played the first half,” Bauer told Fox News Digital in January 2024. “I’d like to be an example that you can make mistakes, recognize them, adjust and then be better in the future. I think that’s something us as humans have to do and should be doing constantly.”
Long Island Ducks pitcher Trevor Bauer throws against the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip, N.Y., on April 21, 2026. (Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM/Getty Images)
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Bauer has since called out MLB after Pete Rose and other deceased former players were taken off the league’s permanently ineligible list.
“So, since Pete is welcome back now, does that go for everyone who has been blackballed?” Bauer asked on X. “Or do you actually have to be guilty of something to qualify for that?”
Bauer was performing well for the Dodgers at the time of the allegations, pitching to a 2.59 ERA.
Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.
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