The Gambling Integrity Corporation is investigating the Jan. 14 men's college basketball game between Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan after multiple sportsbooks reported unusual betting activity.

On Wednesday, sports betting monitor Integrity Compliance 360 ​​issued an alert to its clients, which include sportsbooks, state gambling regulators, leagues and NCAA conferences, saying a bettor attempted to place "the largest bet to date" in Central Michigan. ” to cover the spread of the game at home against Eastern Michigan in the first half.

"During the course of the investigation, the operator also discovered two additional high stakes bets from two accounts in different jurisdictions, both located in the Mid-Michigan 1st half," the alert said. The activity occurred, according to a copy of the alert obtained by ESPN in Connecticut and Tennessee.

Tuesday's game is the second this season involving Eastern Michigan at sportsbooks, the alert noted. IC360 also issued an alert regarding suspicious betting activity on the Dec. 21 game between Wright State University and Eastern Michigan University.

In both cases, the questionable bet was against Eastern Michigan.

"We were made aware of this incident on Wednesday and are currently reviewing it," an Eastern Michigan spokesperson told ESPN in a statement. "At this time we have no information as to what may have triggered the suspicious activity. We are working with the Mid-American Conference and will provide more details as more information becomes available."

IC360 declined to comment when contacted by ESPN. A spokesperson for the Michigan Gaming Control Board said in an email to ESPN that they are aware that a second sports betting regulator, the International Gambling Integrity Agency, is "reviewing an NCAA basketball game that took place on January 14 ” but declined further comment.

IBIA declined to comment, citing company policy.

Central Michigan's point differential opened the first half at -3.5, rising to -6.5 an hour before kickoff. Central Michigan hit a three-pointer in the final seconds and the Chipps led 39-33 at halftime.

Multiple betting industry sources told ESPN that the unusual first-half betting activity is part of a trend that veteran bookmakers and professional bettors have been tracking in college basketball games since last season, including one involving Temple.

ESPN previously reported that federal authorities were investigating a former Temple men's basketball player after a regular-season game between Temple and UAB last March was flagged as a suspicious bet.

Several overseas sportsbooks and at least one U.S. bookmaker have removed the option to place first-half bets on some games this season. An alert obtained by ESPN regarding the Wright State-Eastern Michigan game noted that questionable bets were placed on Wright State's first half odds of -2.5.

"It is currently believed that there are potential links between these bettors and bettors who placed questionable bets on first-half markets in flagged games last season," the alert said.

At halftime, Wright State led Eastern Michigan 38-27. Eastern Michigan won the game 86-82.

First-half scoring is usually equal to about 50% of the entire game's point differential. The full-game point differential between Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan was -8, while the half-time score was -6.5.

In some other games marked by bookmakers and bettors, there was enough action to cause the first-half line to close equal to or greater than the full-game line.

"There's no higher red flag than a half-game closing price that's higher than the (full) game closing price," said one veteran Las Vegas bookmaker.

Eastern Michigan plays at Bowling Green on Saturday.