Ex-Iona player ruled ineligible over point shaving...

A former Iona men's basketball player was ruled ineligible by the NCAA on Thursday for his alleged role in a point-shaving scheme that included threats from one of the bettors involved. Adam Njie Jr. shared information to known bettors ahead of two Iona games in December 2024 during his freshman season at Iona, according to the NCAA. Njie confirmed that he told a bettor that he would throw the first half of a Dec. 1, 2024 game against Rice, but said he did not go through with the plan, according to the NCAA. The Mississippi Gaming Commission reported to the NCAA that a bettor placed three bets totaling $15,500 on Rice to cover the spread in the first half of the game in question. The game was tied at halftime, and Iona covered the spread, resulting in the bets losing. The NCAA found evidence that a bettor threatened Njie with physical harm after the Rice game and that they planned to fix Iona's next game against Sacred Heart to make up for the losses. Njie again told the NCAA he didn't go through with the plot. Iona trailed by 19 at halftime and did not cover the spread, according to findings released Thursday. Attempts to reach Njie for comment were unsuccessful. The NCAA said Njie cooperated with the investigation and maintained that he did not manipulate his performance. Njie transferred from Iona to Dayton in 2025 but was held out of games last season amid NCAA and federal investigations into a point-shaving scheme that ensnared dozens of college basketball players. Njie, who was not among the athletes charged in the indictment, transferred to Hampton in May. Hampton did not immediately return a request for comment. The bettors involved in the Njie case, according to the NCAA, were among six men who were described as "fixers" by the Department of Justice in a sweeping indictment released Jan. 15.