Another mid-Atlantic men’s basketball program is under scrutiny in a gambling investigation. The Loyola (Md.) Greyhounds are the latest team to be investigated for unusual betting activity, as confirmed by the Maryland Lottery & Gaming Control Agency to Sports Illustrated on Friday.
The investigation follows a disappointing season for the Greyhounds, who ended with a record of 7–25 and saw their head coach, Tavaras Hardy, step down. Loyola issued a statement to SI acknowledging an individual’s gambling violation and promptly reporting it to the NCAA. The school took immediate action by removing the individual from the program. The NCAA accepted the self-report without further action, and the conference conducted its investigation in collaboration with U.S. Integrity, finding no irregularities in league contests.
A second men’s basketball team has been linked to an investigation for unusual wagering activity, per @ByPatForde https://t.co/JYoQfifZrI
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) March 8, 2024
This news follows a recent alert from U.S. Integrity regarding unusual betting activity in the UAB Blazers–Temple Owls men’s basketball game. The point spread for the game shifted significantly before tip-off, causing concern within the gambling community and prompting some casinos to remove the game from their betting options. Temple, which lost the game 100-72, has faced scrutiny over its performance in recent matches, with particular attention to the first-half line in their game against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane.
The AAC, like many NCAA conferences, employs U.S. Integrity to monitor gambling activity surrounding member schools and educate athletes and staff on wagering practices. With the rise of legalized sports betting, concerns about improper activity in college competitions have heightened. U.S. Integrity’s involvement in detecting similar issues, such as the Alabama Crimson Tide baseball betting scandal, underscores the importance of vigilance in maintaining the integrity of collegiate sports
