Emanuel “Tiki” Mayben was permanently dismissed from Binghamton University’s men’s basketball team after pleading not guilty to drugs charges Thursday morning.
Mayben, who was one of the Bearcats’ leading scorers, was arrested in his hometown of Troy Wednesday night. He was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, all felonies.
According to Troy Police Sgt. Terry Buchanan, Mayben was indicted for allegedly selling cocaine twice June 29. When he was arrested Wednesday, police allegedly found 3.4 grams of cocaine on the senior.
Mayben was arraigned yesterday in Troy and was released on $30,000 bail.
In addition to losing Mayben, the team will also miss DJ Rivera for at least part of the season, according to reports from The New York Times. The Times reported late Thursday night that Rivera has a broken wrist.
Coach Kevin Broadus had to deal with a strong message from BU President Lois DeFleur Thursday in a written statement.
“I am reiterating to our Athletic Director Joel Thirer and [Bearcats basketball head] coach Kevin Broadus that we will not tolerate this behavior in our student athletes,” said University President Lois DeFleur in an official statement. “This behavior does not reflect the quality of our program and the hundreds of student-athletes at Binghamton University. We appreciate that Coach Broadus has given second chances to athletes, but our program cannot take these risks and I have made this clear to both Thirer and Broadus.”
Thirer echoed DeFleur’s sentiments.
“His arrest is both shocking and disappointing,” he said. “Our University and department will not tolerate this type of behavior. It’s a privilege to be a student-athlete and represent this University and we will not allow that privilege to be abused. Our coaches need to recruit student-athletes who value the opportunity that’s being given to them and I have communicated that directive to Coach Broadus loud and clear.”
According to a report from The Press & Sun-Bulletin, Mayben’s attorney Gregory Cholakis said that the former Bearcats point guard was in the Troy area to get a car as a gift from his family. Cholakis did not return calls to his office made Thursday afternoon.
Cholakis also told The Press & Sun that he expected Mayben to return to BU Thursday for classes. Pipe Dream reached the former Bearcats athlete at his home in Troy Thursday night. He declined comment.
Wednesday’s run-in with the police was not Mayben’s first. Troy police said 10 days earlier Mayben was arrested on campus for possession of marijuana during a routine traffic stop, according to The Press & Sun. The charge is set to be heard in Town of Vestal Court.
Mayben’s arrest isn’t the first time the men’s basketball team has taken the spotlight off the court. In May of 2008 Miladin Kovacevic was charged in the beating of then-BU student Bryan Steinhauer. Steinhauer was in a coma for months. Kovacevic left the country using an illegally issued emergency passport and fled to his native Serbia.
Last November Malik Alvin was arrested for allegedly stealing condoms from the Vestal Wal-Mart and knocking over a 66-year-old woman in the process.
Both Alvin and Mayben were recruited by Broadus, who declined to comment on the incident to Pipe Dream. According to The Press & Sun he was deeply troubled by the news.
“Right now, I can’t even think straight,” he said Wednesday. “I’m just praying right now.”
Broadus also told The Times that he “did all [he] could … and tried to help the kid.”
Mayben was a prominent basketball player at Troy High School and was recruited to join Syracuse, but was deemed academically ineligible. He started his collegiate career at University of Massachusetts Amherst and later played for Hudson Valley Community College.
He came to BU in 2008. As a point guard Mayben averaged 11.5 points per game last season, and ranked third in the America East Conference in assists. He also ranked seventh in the conference in 3-point field goal percentage. Mayben helped the Bearcats win their first-ever AE title in March and played against Duke University in Binghamton’s first appearance in the NCAA tournament.