The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference plans to nullify Winona State's first 13 conference games of the men's basketball season after discovering junior guard Grant Johnson was ineligible to play.
The ruling means Winona State's hopes to host the regional playoff tournament are now in serious doubt, though the Warriors, currently ranked third in the country for Division II, still likely will make it to the postseason.
In a statement released Tuesday, the NSIC said Johnson, the team's second-leading scorer, will be ineligible for the remainder of the 2011-12 season.
Johnson's eligibility was in limbo as the NCAA reviewed his transfer paperwork from Wis.-Parkside, where Johnson spent two seasons before sitting out a year, then transferring to Winona State.
The Warriors will be eligible to participate in postseason play if, at the completion of the season, their recalculated conference win/loss percentage qualifies them for the NSIC tournament beginning Feb. 29.
Winona State athletic department officials were contacted Jan. 23 by another university questioning Johnson's eligibility, according to a Tuesday statement, at which point coach Mike Leaf immediately withheld Johnson from competing.
Winona State immediately informed the NCAA of a potential rules violation and has worked closely with both the NSIC and NCAA in an attempt to resolve the situation.
Winona State athletic department officials failed to clarify some of the responses on the transfer release form. The Warriors coaching staff was unaware of any questions regarding the student-athlete's eligibility.
Johnson joined the team for the 2011-12 season and played in the Warriors' first 19 games. Johnson averaged 15 points per game and also was a strong defender.
The ruling means Winona State's hopes to host the regional playoff tournament are now in serious doubt, though the Warriors, currently ranked third in the country for Division II, still likely will make it to the postseason.
In a statement released Tuesday, the NSIC said Johnson, the team's second-leading scorer, will be ineligible for the remainder of the 2011-12 season.
Johnson's eligibility was in limbo as the NCAA reviewed his transfer paperwork from Wis.-Parkside, where Johnson spent two seasons before sitting out a year, then transferring to Winona State.
The Warriors will be eligible to participate in postseason play if, at the completion of the season, their recalculated conference win/loss percentage qualifies them for the NSIC tournament beginning Feb. 29.
Winona State athletic department officials were contacted Jan. 23 by another university questioning Johnson's eligibility, according to a Tuesday statement, at which point coach Mike Leaf immediately withheld Johnson from competing.
Winona State immediately informed the NCAA of a potential rules violation and has worked closely with both the NSIC and NCAA in an attempt to resolve the situation.
Winona State athletic department officials failed to clarify some of the responses on the transfer release form. The Warriors coaching staff was unaware of any questions regarding the student-athlete's eligibility.
Johnson joined the team for the 2011-12 season and played in the Warriors' first 19 games. Johnson averaged 15 points per game and also was a strong defender.