One of the college basketball players named in a federal indictment charged with fixing games allegedly attempted to shave points against Florida Atlantic University during the 2023-24 season.
Prosecutors allege that Kevin Cross Jr., a former Tulane forward who played for the team from 2020-25, was paid thousands of dollars to intentionally fix games during the 2023-24 season, including FAU’s matchup with the Green Wave on March 2, 2024.
According to the indictment, Cross had discussions with two bettors, Roderick Winkley and Antonio Blakeney, regarding their plan to have Cross fix the Green Wave’s matchup with the Owls to ensure FAU would cover the point spread — the number of points by which an oddsmaker expects the favorite to win.
However, the scheme didn’t go according to plan. FAU was favored to win by 15 points, according to most sportsbooks. The Owls would go up by as much as 20 in the game, but would ultimately win by 6 after a late flurry from the Green Wave.
The unsuccessful attempt to fix the game lost the bettors at least $200,000 that was placed on FAU to cover the spread.
Cross scored 14 points in 36 minutes of action, just below his season average of 17.8 points per game and 10 more than he had scored at halftime.
Federal prosecutors charged 26 people on Jan. 15, including several former and current college basketball players, in the alleged point-shaving scheme, in which players conspire to win by fewer points than the oddsmaker predicts, or even lose the game.
The indictment stemming from an FBI investigation states that more than 39 college basketball players on at least 17 Division I teams “fixed and attempted to fix” over 29 games. Seventeen former college basketball players are listed as defendants, 15 having participated in the 2023-24 or 2024-25 seasons. Some have played this season.
Cross is also accused of fixing another American Athletic Conference game prior to the FAU game. That time, he was successful.
According to the indictment, Cross was promised a $30,000 payout from Winkler and Blakeney if he was able to ensure that Tulane did not cover the spread in its matchup with East Carolina on Feb. 18, 2024. East Carolina was favored to win by 2.5 points, according to the sportsbooks, and Cross allegedly did what he could to ensure that the spread would cover.
With the bettors placing about $140,000 on ECU to cover the spread, Cross scored 6 points as Tulane fell 81-67, meaning that the spread had covered and the bettors cashed in on their bets.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: FAU basketball opponent named in federal indictment for fixing games
Reporting by Justin Backer, Special to The Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
