Five Tulane Players Reportedly Were Paid About $17,500 for Alleged Point-Shaving

NEW ORLEANS —  Five Tulane University basketball players were paid a total of about $17,500 for allegedly shaving points in two Green Wave games last month, The Times-Picayune/The States-Item reported Saturday.

Quoting unidentified sources close to the investigation, the newspaper said prosecutors were told about the alleged payoffs Friday.

The story follows the arrest and booking of a sixth Tulane student and Roland Ruiz, a 48-year-old convicted bookmaker. Seven people have been arrested and booked in the case, three of them Tulane players.

The newspaper reported prosecutors were told that five players allegedly received about $1,000 each for shaving points in a Feb. 2 victory over Southern Mississippi and about $2,500 each for holding down their scoring in a Feb. 20 loss to Memphis State.

Tulane was a 10 1/2-point favorite over Southern Mississippi and won, 64-63. Memphis State opened as a 5-point favorite, went to 6 1/2 points and won, 60-49.

The newspaper also reported that prosecutors are looking into a trip to Las Vegas by at least one of the arrested students. They are trying to determine whether large bets were made at the time of the games.

The three players arrested last week are senior star John Williams of Sorrento, La., an all-Metro Conference center; sophomore swingman David Dominique of New Iberia, La., and senior guard Bobby Thompson of New Orleans.