The Binghamton University men’s basketball team was slapped with another setback Monday night, with news that the Bearcats will not participate in the America East tournament.

In the form of a statement released to reporters around 8 p.m., Binghamton University President Lois DeFleur announced the defending champions’ withdrawal from this weekend’s competition.

DeFleur said in her statement that the decision came “after numerous discussions and considerations of the possible distractions that may occur this weekend.”

The tournament is scheduled for Thursday through Sunday at the University of Hartford, in conjunction with the women’s basketball tournament. The Bearcats finished in fifth place for the regular season and were slated to play No. 4 Boston University in the tournament Saturday. The women’s team is to scheduled to play on Friday.

At the time of print, a Facebook event titled “Tell Lois DeFleur: We’re Going to America East” had 58 guests confirmed to “stand up” to DeFleur from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday on the Peace Quad.

“The louder we are the greater a difference we can make!” reads the event’s description. “Our team has gone through a lot this year and stopping them from competing this weekend is a wrong that needs to be righted.”

America East Commissioner Patrick Nero called DeFleur’s statement “an important step forward.”

“We support Binghamton University’s decision,” Nero said in a statement. “Our attention now is focused on the men’s and women’s teams competing this weekend.”

The message also stated that the action “is being done voluntarily,” as part of the school’s promise “to move forward” and “develop a comprehensive plan to address the recommendations of the recent review.”

The statement acknowledged student-athletes and coaches “for the dedication and determination they have maintained throughout” the year. However, with the current problems involving the basketball program, University officials decided it was not proper that the school play in the postseason games.

The news comes after an audit of the BU athletic program, released Feb. 12, naming DeFleur and other top University officials as conspirators in a scandal that overlooked alleged criminal activity and pushed for lowered academic standards.

The review was compiled for the SUNY board of trustees by a team of lawyers led by Judge Judith Kaye. In the audit, players were cited as being charged with a wide range of misconduct — from alleged drug possession to a debit card scam. These, along with academic issues and the final breaking point of the arrest of a key player who was charged with possession of crack cocaine, culminated in the dismissals of six players in September.

Following those dismissals, head coach Kevin Broadus was placed on a paid leave of absence, and then-athletic director Joel Thirer announced his resignation.

Around the time of Thirer’s resignation, DeFleur called for an audit of the athletic department. SUNY chancellor Nancy Zimpher later took the audit under the purview of SUNY central administration.

Over winter break DeFleur announced her plans to retire come July.

Zimpher is scheduled to make her recommendations based on the review to the SUNY Board March 23.

— Ashley Tarr contributed to this report.