New Mexico State is halting its males’s basketball program amid an investigation into alleged hazing between gamers, CBS Sports activities’ Matt Norlander confirms. The Aggies, who’ve simply 5 regular-season video games remaining, already canceled a Feb. 11 recreation towards Cal Baptist following the allegations.
The varsity beforehand introduced it was suspending team operations and putting the teaching workers on paid administrative depart “till additional discover.” The choice got here on the behest of New Mexico State chancellor Dan Arvizu after being made conscious of the hazing allegations.
“We took this motion after receiving experiences of alleged hazing incidents inside our males’s basketball workforce,” mentioned Arvizu. “Our gamers and coaches had been in California on the time making ready to play Cal Baptist. To make sure we absolutely understood this case, we canceled that recreation, referred to as the workforce again to Las Cruces and positioned the teaching workers on paid administrative depart. As soon as our student-athletes arrived on campus, they had been met and interviewed by college personnel who’re specifically skilled to conduct investigations into these sorts of issues.”
In keeping with a police report obtained by KTSM-TV, three gamers are dealing with a trio of offenses, together with one depend of false imprisonment, one depend of harassment and two counts of felony sexual contact. The sufferer, a member of the basketball workforce, claims that on Feb. 6, 2023, three members of the workforce whose names had been redacted within the police report “held him down with him dealing with down, eliminated his clothes exposing his buttocks and started to ‘slap his ass.’ He additionally went on to state that additionally they touched his scrotum.”
Incidents of abuse have allegedly been going down since summer time of 2022. The sufferer then went to campus police on Feb. 10 to file a report for potential assault, although no felony expenses have been subject.
In its preliminary assertion, NMSU mentioned solely that the allegations contain potential violations of college coverage which might be “separate from the occasions that happened in Albuquerque late final 12 months.”
In November, a New Mexico State participant was hospitalized after a shooting on New Mexico’s campus within the early morning hours earlier than the in-state rivals had been scheduled to play. The participant, Mike Peake, was hospitalized after which suspended for his function within the incident, which left a New Mexico pupil lifeless.
“Crucial job I’ve as Chancellor of the NMSU System is to make sure our college students are secure and protected against hurt,” added Arvizu. “That is why I used to be so heartbroken and sickened to listen to about these hazing allegations. Hazing is a despicable act. It humiliates and degrades somebody and has the potential to trigger bodily and emotional hurt, and even dying. Sadly, hazing can develop into a part of a company’s tradition, if left unchecked. NMSU coverage strictly prohibits hazing, in all types, and it is one thing we merely won’t tolerate.”
The Aggies are 9-15 and 2-10 within the WAC after ending final season 27-7 and beating No. 5 seed UConn in a first-round NCAA Tournament recreation. Following final season, coach Chris Jans left for Mississippi State and the college employed Heiar from Northwest Florida State, an influence within the junior faculty ranks. Heiar beforehand labored as an assistant at ETSU, LSU, Wichita State and Southern Miss.
New Mexico State’s Board of Regents launched a press release saying it helps this system’s suspension “and is assured a full and thorough investigation can be performed.”