MORAGA, Calif. – Saint Mary's coach Randy Bennett must serve a five-game suspension at the start of the West Coast Conference season and won't be allowed to recruit off campus this season as the NCAA has upheld penalties against the successful mid-major program for recruiting violations.
In making the announcement Monday from the NCAA's infractions appeals committee, the NCAA has denied Bennett's appeal that included the claim of a procedural error involved.
In March, the NCAA put Saint Mary's on four years of probation for a "failure to monitor its men's basketball program," reducing scholarships by two for the 2014-15 and 15-16 seasons.
Saint Mary's will still be allowed to participate in the league tournament and the NCAA tournament but can't play in preseason or in-season tournaments not already contractually obligated to attend.
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