Vincent Ordonio/The Collegian
Fresno State guard Zaon Collins dribbling against Colorado State University at the Save Mart Center on Jan. 25.
The Fresno State men’s basketball team is without two key players in its road matchup against Air Force.
Guards Jalen Weaver and Zaon Collins are being withheld from competition due to eligibility issues, which may stem from a university investigation into betting, according to The Fresno Bee.
The NCAA rule states that betting is not permitted on any sports in intercollegiate, amateur or professional athletics competitions and may lead to permanent ineligibility or suspension from games.
Weaver is a senior at Fresno State but would be able to claim his last year of junior college eligibility, but it is now uncertain with this situation.
Collins’ athletic eligibility is also uncertain at this time.
The news broke just under an hour before the noon tip-off between the Bulldogs and the Falcons.
An email sent by Joshua Mitchell, Fresno State men’s basketball strategic communications director, shared that the university will not comment at this time.
“Fresno State men’s basketball student-athletes Jalen Weaver and Zaon Collins are being withheld from competition as the University reviews an eligibility matter,” Mitchell said. “The University and Athletics Department will have no further comments regarding the matter at this time.”
The Collegian reached out to university communications for further comment and Lisa Bell, public information officer, provided the same statement.
Collins traveled with the team to Colorado but Weaver did not.
The two guards lead the Bulldogs in multiple statistical categories this season. Weaver averages a team-high 12.5 points per game as well as the third-most minutes per game. Collins is just behind him at 12 points per game with a team-high 4.7 assists per game and 1.9 steals per game.
This isn’t the first time the ‘Dogs have had issues with eligibility.
Forward Makhan Diouf hasn’t played at all this season due to eligibility. Forward Mykell Robinson is also being investigated for betting concerns and has been away from the team since the overtime loss to the University of Nevada, Reno on Jan. 11.
Head coach Vance Walberg and the ‘Dogs have lost their last nine games with their last win coming at home against Air Force on Jan. 17.
The team will look to end their losing streak with a severely depleted roster, having only seven active players.