Boston, MA -- (Sports Network) - The NCAA penalized Northeastern University on Friday, placing its athletics program on probation for two years for violations within the men's basketball program.

The NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions said the case involved recruiting violations, including impermissible benefits and recruiting activity by a booster.

The school was also penalized through scholarship reductions and recruiting restrictions.

In the case, from the summer of 2003 through December 28, 2004, a booster assisted the men's basketball coaching staff in the recruitment of an international student-athlete and provided impermissible inducements to the student-athlete during his recruitment.

The NCAA said the booster had several exchanges through e-mail and phone calls with the student-athlete and at least one of his family members. The booster also purchased a one-way plane ticket for the student-athlete so he could travel from his home overseas to Boston for the purpose of enrolling at Northeastern.