March Madness 2019: Florida falls to Auburn after controversial no-call in SEC semis

Jacob Janower

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March Madness 2019: Florida falls to Auburn after controversial no-call in SEC semis image

Auburn took Florida down on Saturday to advance to the SEC championship game, but the finish wasn't without its share of controversy.

Florida, down 65-62 in the final seconds, had the ball in the game's last possession. As Florida's Andrew Nembhard advanced the ball up the court for a potential game-tying 3, he was fouled by a trio of Tigers both on the ground and while in the act of shooting. At the very least, he should have been allowed to go to the foul line to potentially tie the game.

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Instead, no foul was called, the shot was badly missed, and Auburn escaped with the win. It's tough to defend the officiating on this one.

Auburn seemed to be attempting to intentionally foul up three points, a strategy that has gained more traction in recent years. Although the Tigers got away with it, the strategy would have backfired had a foul been called and Nembhard sunk all three free throws.

Unsurprisingly, social media was in an uproar about the finish. 

Nembhard has been clutch in the past for the Gators. He knocked down a 3 in the final second on Friday that lifted them past LSU — and maybe into the last four byes of the NCAA Tournament.

Auburn will get the winner of Kentucky-Tennessee in the SEC championship game on Sunday.

Jacob Janower