Article is on ESPN about this. There are a number of things about this story that gets me to head scratching. Top of the list is: we're talking Abilene. ACU averages 1100 attendance at their home games. ACU also happens to be one of/ if not the most conservative Christian school playing D1 mbb. Fanbase, such as it is, does not suggest a gambling demographic. In short, how is there remotely enough money interest that might prompt anyone to try fixing a basketball game in Abilene Texas?

It wasn't Abilene fans they were throwing games for. It was degenerate gamblers with money to offer.

You have to remember players at the low DI level aren't getting any real NIL to play. If someone comes along offering tens of thousands of dollars, there will be some who are enticed by it.

Honestly, gambling has made pro and major college sports really gross right now. All of those leagues are in bed with the sports books and betting sites, and the hypocrisy is laughably on the nose.

You've got major networks and sports outlets discussing these betting scandals right before or after FanDuel or Kalshi ad reads/commercials or with betting lines scrolling on a branded ticker. It would be hilarious if it wasn't so sad.

You don't just bet on the teams you like. Bettors bet on everything. I don't know what a "Christian" school has to do with it.

EvilTroyAndAbed said:

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You don't just bet on the teams you like. Bettors bet on everything. I don't know what a "Christian" school has to do with it.

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I feel the following is somewhat fitting:

The joke goes like this:
An Aggie football player, a Longhorn, and an Oklahoma Sooner were all caught throwing an important game for a massive bribe. [1, 2]
Put on trial for conspiracy and match-fixing, the judge asked the Sooner how much he was paid. "I was offered \(\$50,000\) to throw the game," the Sooner confessed.
The judge turned to the Longhorn, who admitted, "I took a \(\$100,000\) bribe."
Finally, the judge asked the Aggie. "I only got \(\$5,000\)," the Aggie replied.
The judge looked completely baffled and asked, "Well, why in the world did you try to throw the game for only \(\$5,000\)?"
The Aggie scratched his head and said, "Because I was pretty sure we were going to lose anyway!"