Big Sky suspends three officials
By the Associated Press
The Big Sky Conference has suspended three officials for making an incorrect ruling during a weekend men's basketball game between Montana and Idaho State, league commissioner Doug Fullerton said Monday.
Eric Curry of Minnesota, Bob Scofield of Arizona and Scott Harris of Washington each will be suspended for one game.
The Sunday game, held in Pocatello, Idaho, was tied at 58-58 in the final second when a Montana's Jordan Hasquet called a timeout after securing a rebound.
According to a statement from the league, television replays confirmed the timeout was recognized by the officials before the final horn.
The statement said Montana had used its allotment of timeouts and should have been called for a technical foul, awarding Idaho State two free-throw attempts with time still on the clock. After the technical foul shots, Montana should have taken possession, the statement said.
Instead, the officials ruled that the time-out was recognized simultaneously with the final horn.
Curry, the head official, made the incorrect call, said Jon Kasper, director of media relations for the Big Sky. However, the game was televised, so all three officials had the option to use replay to determine how much time remained when the timeout was recognized.
They chose not to review the play, and Montana won the game 73-62 in overtime.
Reached at his office in Minneapolis on Monday, Curry declined to comment. A message left for a Bob Scofield in Tucson, Ariz., was not immediately returned, and a listed phone number for Harris, of Normandy Park, Wash., could not be found.
“We give officials great flexibility to interpret plays within the rules,” Fullerton said. “We never allow officials to set aside a rule. We're not sure whether the game would have ended on the free-throw line, but Idaho State should have been given that opportunity.”
The NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee does not recognize or allow protests, so the outcome of the game will not change, the statement said.
By the Associated Press
The Big Sky Conference has suspended three officials for making an incorrect ruling during a weekend men's basketball game between Montana and Idaho State, league commissioner Doug Fullerton said Monday.
Eric Curry of Minnesota, Bob Scofield of Arizona and Scott Harris of Washington each will be suspended for one game.
The Sunday game, held in Pocatello, Idaho, was tied at 58-58 in the final second when a Montana's Jordan Hasquet called a timeout after securing a rebound.
According to a statement from the league, television replays confirmed the timeout was recognized by the officials before the final horn.
The statement said Montana had used its allotment of timeouts and should have been called for a technical foul, awarding Idaho State two free-throw attempts with time still on the clock. After the technical foul shots, Montana should have taken possession, the statement said.
Instead, the officials ruled that the time-out was recognized simultaneously with the final horn.
Curry, the head official, made the incorrect call, said Jon Kasper, director of media relations for the Big Sky. However, the game was televised, so all three officials had the option to use replay to determine how much time remained when the timeout was recognized.
They chose not to review the play, and Montana won the game 73-62 in overtime.
Reached at his office in Minneapolis on Monday, Curry declined to comment. A message left for a Bob Scofield in Tucson, Ariz., was not immediately returned, and a listed phone number for Harris, of Normandy Park, Wash., could not be found.
“We give officials great flexibility to interpret plays within the rules,” Fullerton said. “We never allow officials to set aside a rule. We're not sure whether the game would have ended on the free-throw line, but Idaho State should have been given that opportunity.”
The NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee does not recognize or allow protests, so the outcome of the game will not change, the statement said.
