Emanuel “Tiki” Mayben’s trial for drug charges has been rescheduled to late May.

The move would allow him to complete his undergraduate degree.

Mayben, the former star point guard of the Binghamton University men’s basketball team, was arrested and indicted in September for allegedly selling crack cocaine twice on June 29. Police say they found 3.4 grams of crack cocaine on the senior at the time of the arrest.

He was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both felonies. He pleaded not guilty.

His trial was initially set to begin later this month, but it was moved to May 24.

A report from Albany’s Times Union indicated that Mayben was considering a plea deal, but Greg Cholakis, Mayben’s Troy lawyer, declined to comment on any such potential deal.

“I can’t comment at all on any plea offer that may have been made,” he said.

Cholakis did comment on the change in the trial date, however.

“It’s not unusual,” he said, referring to the postponement, adding that trials are often scheduled concurrently in anticipation of schedule changes like this.

Richard J. McNally, Jr., the Rensselaer County District Attorney, spoke of Mayben’s case in a general context. He said that if found guilty for a first offense, the defendant could receive a lighter sentence today, while several years ago, he may have had to serve a six- or seven-year prison sentence.

BU spokeswoman Gail Glover declined to comment on whether the University has had any involvement in the case.

“I am not going to provide any additional information related to a pending judicial matter,” she said. “We will treat this situation as we would any student judicial matter.”

Conversely, BU faculty members have been more vocal in response to publicity surrounding the basketball team and the athletic program.

The New York Times reported Thursday that “18 faculty members recommended that the Faculty Senate vote on whether Binghamton should remain in Division I.”

Two faculty members also penned a letter to The New York Times that was published March 6. Nadia Rubaii-Barrett, chair and associate professor of public administration, and Laura Bronstein, chair of social work, took issue with The Times’ representation of the school’s academic standards.

The New York Times Feb. 28 article “At Binghamton, Concern That Sports Still a Focus,” they argued in their letter, “suggests that the faculty questions whether Binghamton University’s leaders remain committed to academic excellence, particularly in the College of Community and Public Affairs. As C.C.P.A. faculty members, we reject that characterization and believe your article presented only the views of a small faculty minority.”

This all takes place in the lead-up to SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher’s recommendations on the BU athletic program. She will announce her recommendations to the SUNY board of trustees March 23.