Three UTEP Men’s Basketball Players Ousted For Betting on Games

The leading scorer for the University of Texas men’s basketball team, McKenzie Moore, has been kicked out of the program along with two other reserves after they were discovered betting on sporting events.  The school emphasized that there is so far no evidence of point shaving or betting on Miners games.

Reserves Jalen Ragland and Justin Crosgile were also ousted from the program.  The three face a one-year suspension and will lose a year of eligibility.  

"To date, there was no indication that point shaving was involved. However, per NCAA rules, any type of sports gambling is prohibited and results in a one-year suspension and loss of a year of eligibility," the school said in a statement. "All three players are upperclassmen, and therefore their college basketball careers are over. They are no longer enrolled at UTEP and are no longer a part of our basketball program."

The FBI is now conducting its own investigation with full cooperation from UTEP.

"We are privy to the fact that they violated rules, but we do know that up to now they were not betting on UTEP games," Ricardo Adauto, the school's executive vice president of legal affairs, said in the news conference.

"We evaluate every film and we did not suspect that they were betting on any UTEP events," Miners coach Tim Floyd said.

UTEP currently plays in the Conference USA and currently holds a 10-5 record.

- Tyrone Black, Gambling911.com