(Photo credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images)

Four players on the 2024-25 Alabama State men's basketball team committed sports betting integrity violations, the NCAA announced on Friday.

Amarr Knox, Shawn Fulcher, Corey Hines and Tony Madlock engaged in game manipulation on Dec. 5, 2024, when Southern Miss, a six-point favorite, pulled away in the second half and defeated the Hornets, 81-64.

In NCAA enforcement staff interviews with Knox, he reported that Fulcher put the four players in a group chat with known bettors. Madlock informed the bettors that he was injured and would not play. The bettors offered the players a total of $2,000 to throw the game. The players accepted and were subsequently paid.

Alabama State in fact led the game 33-30 at halftime, but shot only 23 of 71 (32.4%) on the day, compared to 30-of-60 (50%) efficiency by Southern Miss.

The Hornets won seven of their final eight games of the regular season, captured the SWAC tournament title and defeated Saint Francis in a First Four game of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

Knox hit the game-winning layup with one second remaining, giving the program its first NCAA Division I Tournament victory in program history.

In January 2026, the bettors were indicted on charges of wire fraud and bribery related to sports contests by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In addition, Hines and Fulcher, who both failed to cooperate and provided false information to the enforcement staff, were also indicted by the U.S. Attorney's office.

Madlock, who had exhausted his college eligibility, declined to take part in an interview with the enforcement staff.

None of the players competed on a college team last season. Barring the assistance of an NCAA school, Hines, Fulcher and Knox cannot be reinstated.

--Field Level Media