A suspended point guard on the Auburn men's basketball team shaving probe, according to a report.
Citing three anonymous sources with knowledge of the case, Yahoo! Sports on Thursday said Varez Ward has been under investigation by federal authorities since late last month.
Ward and fellow sophomore guard Chris Denson were suspended prior to a 77-71 loss to Arkansas on Feb. 25 for violating unspecified team rules. Denson was also questioned in the point-shaving probe, but was cleared and returned to the team after missing one game, according to the report.
The website reported that other Auburn players were questioned about Ward and whether he tried to enlist them in a possible point-shaving scheme.
Meanwhile, the NCAA said it was "concerned" by the allegations and has been in contact with the FBI since February.
Sources told Yahoo! Sports that an Auburn player raised concerns about a possible scheme with an assistant coach in late February. Auburn said in a statement it was made aware of the allegations two weeks ago and reported it to the FBI, NCAA and Southeastern Conference, where the Tigers play.
Shortly thereafter, Auburn head coach Tony Barbee suspended the two players.
According to Yahoo! Sports, two Auburn games were being looked at, both losses.
In the first game, a 68-50 loss to Alabama on Feb. 7, the website points out that Ward scored three points in 17 minutes and committed six turnovers.
He averaged nine points in more than 27 minutes a game in the 27 games he played this season, including 17 starts.
Yahoo! Sports said Alabama entered the game as a five-point favorite and easily covered the spread.
Transcripts on Auburn's website show Ward said this after the game: "It's hard to beat a team when you turn the ball over like that. I take part of the blame for most of those turnovers, because I had six myself. I just have to play better."
In the other game under scrutiny, according to the report, Ward played mere seconds and turned the ball over in the backcourt before leaving a 56-53 loss to Arkansas on Jan. 25 with what was said to be a quadriceps injury.
