According to a report from Sports Illustrated, U.S. Integrity, an organization dedicated to combatting illicit college sports betting and fraud, is investigating two men’s basketball programs for suspicious gambling activities.
The scrutiny is focused on the game between Temple and UAB on Thursday night, as well as the Loyola (Maryland) program, due to what the group terms “suspicious betting activity.”
A spokesperson from Loyola informed Sports Illustrated that they promptly reported an individual’s gambling violation to the NCAA upon becoming aware of it. The individual was swiftly removed from the program, and the NCAA accepted the self-report without taking further action.
“Loyola was made aware of an individual’s gambling violation that was promptly reported to the NCAA,” a Loyola spokesperson told Sports Illustrated. “The individual was immediately removed from the program, and the NCAA accepted the self-report and took no further action. The conference office investigated to ensure the integrity of League contests by reaching out to U.S. Integrity, the conference’s monitoring partner. U.S. Integrity analyzed contests and no anomalies were discovered. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency provided contact information on operators licensed in the state, and those operators confirmed all previously known information.”
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Additionally, the conference office conducted an investigation to safeguard the integrity of league contests by collaborating with U.S. Integrity, their monitoring partner. U.S. Integrity conducted an analysis of the contests and found no anomalies. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency provided contact information for licensed operators in the state, all of whom confirmed previously known information.
Loyola’s season concluded with a 64-48 loss to Maryland on Thursday night, leading to the departure of sixth-year coach Tavaras Hardy after a disappointing 7-25 finish to the season.
The game between UAB and Temple on Thursday saw significant fluctuations in the betting line, with UAB initially favored by a narrow margin before the line shifted dramatically throughout the day leading up to the game. Despite such changes, there were no apparent explanations such as injuries or health uncertainties that could justify the drastic swings. UAB ultimately secured a 100-72 victory on the road.
Temple, acknowledging the social media posts regarding the game, stated that they would review the reports thoroughly in accordance with university and NCAA policies, refraining from further comment at this time.
In addition to the flagged game, U.S. Integrity has reportedly been monitoring Temple games for some time. Temple has had a challenging season, with a record of 11-19 and a 12-15-2 record against the spread, according to TeamRankings data.
While a flagged game itself does not imply guilt, recent instances suggest that U.S. Integrity’s involvement may not bode well for individuals engaging in improper activities. The company’s intervention in the infamous Alabama baseball betting scandal, for example, preceded disciplinary actions against those involved.
Temple is currently in its first year under head coach Adam Fisher, following the departure of Aaron McKie. With one regular-season game remaining before postseason play, Fisher’s Owls are tied for last place in the American Athletic Conference.
