The Fresno State men’s basketball team and the baseball team were penalized by the NCAA Tuesday morning for lack of academic progress.

The NCAA released its annual Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores on Tuesday morning.

The baseball team received a rating of 893 and the Bulldogs men’s basketball team had a rating of only 816 over a four-year period from 2003-2004 through 2006-2007.

Teams must maintain a multi-year average of 925.

Men’s golf and tennis also fell below 925, but were not penalized.

Additionally, softball did not have a multi-year average of 925, but the team was not penalized.

The Bulldogs baseball team will be limited to 11.65 total athletic scholarships, a reduction of .05 scholarships, although the team did improve from last year.

This is the third straight year the baseball team has been sanctioned by the NCAA.

The men’s basketball team received two penalties because of the low score of only 816.

The team will lose one scholarship and practice hours will be reduced to 16 from 20. The other four hours must be used for academic purposes.

Historically, the men’s basketball team has had trouble academically.

Men’s basketball originally had an APR score of 611 from the 2003-2004 school year, so 816 is a vast improvement.

Next year, the score of 611 will be dropped from the aggregate average, which will likely improve the score significantly.

Overall, 11 of Fresno State’s 16 sports counted for the APR improved their scores in the 2006-07 year, compared to the previous year.

However, the NCAA does not consider equestrian because the sport is still emerging at the collegiate level.

This is the fourth year of APR data collected by the NCAA.

APR Scores
NCAA Standard is 925

•Men’s
Baseball – 893
Basketball – 816
Football – 946
Golf – 924
Tennis – 892
Track – 926

• Women’s
Basketball – 938
Cross Country – 951
Golf – 991
Soccer – 963
Softball – 910
Tennis – 959
Indoor Track – 927
Outdoor Track – 925
Volleyball – 962