Texas Tech Forfeits 10 Wins Over Use Of Ineligible Players

Texas Tech, one day after declaring two basketball players ineligible during the Big 12 tournament, said Saturday it has withdrawn from NCAA Tournament consideration and forfeited its 10 conference wins.

The Red Raiders, with a 19-8 record and the Big 12’s top scorer and top rebounder, were a virtual cinch to get an at-large NCAA bid.

School officials said a routine NCAA audit discovered the two players, Fredric “Deuce” Jones and Gracen Averil, were not eligible. They attributed the situation to an administrative oversight.

School officials said the players were ineligible because a grade of “D” had been used in certifying their academic standing.