New Mexico State University SUSPENDS men’s basketball season indefinitely over ‘new allegations’

New Mexico State has suspended operations of its men’s basketball program and placed its coaching staff on paid administrative leave due to allegations unrelated to a fatal shooting last year.

The school said in a statement Friday night the new allegations involved potential violations of university policy and were separate from the Nov. 19 shooting of a student from the University of New Mexico. 

Aggies power forward Mike Peake was suspended in early December while a third-party investigator looks into his possible involvement in the shooting.

New Mexico State’s game against California Baptist on Saturday was canceled.

The school released a statement on Friday vaguely explaining the circumstances surrounding the decision.

‘New Mexico State University is suspending operations for the men’s basketball program until further notice,’ the statement read. 

‘NMSU personnel were recently informed of new allegations, separate from the events that took place in Albuquerque late last year, involving potential violations of university policy. 

‘While those allegations are being investigated, the men’s basketball coaching staff has been placed on paid administrative leave. The game scheduled for February 11 against California Baptist will not be played.’ 

The New Mexico State University Board of Regent issued a separate statement in support of the decision for the program to suspend operations.

‘The New Mexico State University Board of Regents were informed this evening of the suspension of operations for the men’s basketball program,’ their statement said. 

‘The board supports the action taken by the university leaders and is confident a full and thorough investigation will be conducted.’ 

Peake, 21, has not been charged in the pre-dawn shooting on the University of New Mexico´s campus in Albuquerque hours before the host Lobos were to play the Aggies. That game was canceled, along with the Dec. 3 rematch in Las Cruces.

According to ESPN’s Myron Medcalf, following the incident, ‘multiple NMSU staffers took possession of Peake’s gun and other potential evidence that was later recovered by New Mexico State police.

‘Lorenzo Jenkins, who serves as a special assistant to [NMSU head coach Greg] Heiar, had Peake’s tablet in a backpack. An unnamed New Mexico State administrator had his phone, state police said. 

‘The gun used in the shooting was located at the team hotel in Albuquerque, where assistant coach Dominique Taylor had it wrapped in a towel after Heiar called him and told him that Avery, Muhammad and Roy could tell him where to find the weapon.’

NMSU and the Albuquerque district attorney’s office have each began separate investigations into the shooting and the actions taken by staff, coaches, and players. 

This is Heiar’s first season as head coach of the Aggies. They owned a 9-15 record prior to the suspension.