The Western Athletic Conference ruled Monday that the remainder of New Mexico State men’s basketball games were forfeited after the program canceled the season over an alleged hazing incident.
Losses will be used for conference standings and seasons because the NCAA does not recognize missed games on a team’s overall record. The Aggies had six games left on the schedule before their team’s season was cancelled.
“While there is no perfect solution to this unfortunate situation, I believe we landed in the right place,” WAC Commissioner Brian Thornton said in a statement. «I applaud our athletic directors for working collaboratively with our staff to reach this decision.
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A Western Athletic Conference logo is displayed on the court before the Western Athletic Conference basketball tournament championship game at Orleans Arena on March 12, 2022 in Las Vegas. (Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
«We are in the midst of the best statistical season in WAC history, and we wanted to create the most equitable solution that would not unfairly benefit or disadvantage institutions that missed opportunities to improve their position. Ultimately, each institution will retain the ability to control their fate based on the results of their remaining conference contests.»
The state of New Mexico canceled the season after a police report alleged three players assaulted a teammate in a case that includes allegations of false imprisonment and criminal sexual contact.
The regents of the university are scheduled to hold a closed meeting to discuss «limited personnel matters related to individual employees.» Coach Greg Hair and his staff were on administrative leave at the same time Chancellor Dan Arvizu suspended the season.
NEW MEXICO STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL PROGRAM SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY AFTER REPORTS OF HAZING: CHANCELLOR
The university has not shared any details about the alleged hazing incidents or the names of those accused of participating.
The suspension comes at a troubling time in the Aggies program after a Nov. 19 shooting on the Albuquerque campus of rival New Mexico University left Peake, 21, wounded and UNM student Brandon Travis, of 19, dead.
Police reported that Travis and three other UNM students, including a 17-year-old girl, lured Peake to campus hours before the rivalry game.
Surveillance footage released by the New Mexico State Police in December showed three people approaching the basketball player from behind before hitting him in the legs with a baseball bat and shooting him in the left leg. Peake can then be seen pulling out a gun and firing several shots, which hit Travis and resulted in his death.
A Western Athletic Conference logo is displayed on the court before the Western Athletic Conference basketball tournament championship game at Orleans Arena on March 12, 2022 in Las Vegas. (Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images)
Three of Peake’s teammates, later identified as Issa Muhammad, Marchelus Avery, and Anthony Roy, picked him up from the scene and took him to a hospital.
The game was initially rescheduled for the next day, but was postponed to December 3 and moved to Las Cruces. It was finally cancelled.
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Peake was indefinitely suspended from the team two days later while his involvement in the shooting was investigated. As of February, he faces no criminal charges in connection with the shooting.
Elizabeth Pritchett of Fox News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.