College basketball conspiracy theorists just got some early-season debate fodder.
No. 13 Michigan State held off Florida Gulf Coast, 78-77, on Sunday, but the outcome has come into question because of some shoddy time keeping.
With 1.6 seconds remaining, the clock was started as soon as FGCU attempted to inbound the ball instead of when it hit the hands of Antravious Simmons, which should have been the case. Simmons missed his rushed shot, but he should have technically had more time to attempt one.
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Officials reviewed the play and elected not to give FGCU another chance to shoot.
In a statement to a pool reporter, official Bo Boroski explained, "A timing error occurred with 1.6 seconds remaining on the game clock," adding that "a stopwatch was used to determine if any time should remain on the game clock."
"It was determined the ball was caught and released in 1.3 seconds, meaning if the shot would have gone in, it would have counted," the statement continued. "After the miss there was no time remaining in the game, therefore ending the game. By rule the possession can not be replayed. Period."
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FGCU coach Joe Dooley said after the game he understood the call.
"Officials said they can only review it if the shot goes in," Dooley said, via ESPN.com. "We threw the ball in at 1.6 [seconds] and caught it at 0. The refs said they didn't start the clock. The table said they didn't start the clock. The refs said they could only review if the shot goes in. My guy [Simmons] heard the buzzer and shot it.''
And, so, the little guy gets the short end of the stick.