New Mexico State men’s basketball season cancelled, reportedly over hazing allegations
The state of New Mexico indefinitely suspended its men’s basketball team’s season on Friday. The university made the move following allegations reportedly unrelated to the fatal shooting of a University of New Mexico student in Albuquerque by NMSU player Mike Peake last November.
The university said in a statement that “new allegations” emerged that resulted in the Aggies’ Saturday game against Cal Baptist being canceled and the team’s season suspended.
Separately from the events that took place in Albuquerque late last year, NMSU staff were recently briefed on new allegations of potential university policy violations. While these allegations are being investigated, the men’s basketball coaching team has been placed on paid administrative leave. The game against California Baptist scheduled for February 11 will not be played.
The stadium’s Jeff Goodman reported on Friday that the allegations concern a player who has been harassed on a number of occasions by teammates and that a police report led to the closure.
BREAKING: The new allegations related to the New Mexico state program involve multiple players molesting a teammate on more than one occasion, the source said @Stadion.
The police report was filed in the last 24 hours. This triggered the indefinite shutdown of the program. https://t.co/JgoKaKj2tc
– Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) February 11, 2023
A source said Goodman They have “no idea” if the Aggies will play again this season. That question was answered on Sunday when the season was officially called off, according to Goodman.
The New Mexico state men’s basketball program will be conducted for the remainder of the season, a source said @Stadion.
The school is in the midst of an investigation into multiple incidents of harassment by 3 players against one of their teammates, per source.
– Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) February 12, 2023
“It’s a complete S show over there,” the anonymous source was quoted as saying.
According to Colin Deaver, the allegations include false detention and locker room sex.
New Mexico State has six games left on its regular season schedule. It’s 2-10 in the Western Athletic Conference and 9-15 overall under first-year coach Greg Heiar.
Albuquerque Police said Peake shot and killed 19-year-old Brandon Travis on November 19 after he was assaulted on the New Mexico campus. Travis was one of four people who “lured” Peake to campus to avenge a fight that took place at the New Mexico-New Mexico State football game in October, police said.
21-year-old Peake was injured in a shootout. According to Las Cruces Sun News, he has not been charged. The state of New Mexico suspended him from the team in December.
The games scheduled for November 19 and December 3 between the state of New Mexico and New Mexico have been canceled.