Southern Utah says scorekeepers didn’t count a key free throw during its double-overtime loss at Cal

Southern Utah says scorekeepers missed a key free throw during its overtime loss at Cal

The Southern Utah Thunderbirds suffered a double-overtime loss to California on Thursday.

But SUU officials say they were not credited for a free throw during regulation that would have tipped the score in their favor.

Center Jason Spurgin went to the free throw line with 14:02 to play in the second half, his team leading 41-34. Spurgin made both free throws but was only credited for one, making the score 42-34 in the scorebook.

“The bookkeeping error that occurred during our men’s basketball game at Cal was an unfortunate but critical mistake,” SUU athletics director Debbi Corum said in a statement Monday. “Our coaching staff made every effort to bring it to the attention of the officials and the Cal employees working the scorer’s table at the appropriate time during the game, but were unsuccessful in their justified efforts to protest. Following a thorough review of the film, it is clear our team was not awarded a point for a successful free-throw attempt during the game. This was not simply an officiating error or judgement call that did not go in our favor, but a failure to uphold the rules and standards of the game of basketball.”

SUU coach Todd Simon told ESPN he tried and failed to raise the concern during the game.

“At the time, I argued with the scorer’s table, and after a couple possessions, I got the officials’ attention,” Simon told ESPN. “The scorer’s table insisted they were right. Not much we could do beyond that. The lead official took their word and didn’t go to the monitor. Unfortunately, it had to take some gymnastics from the stat crew doing play-by-play, the scorekeeper, etc., to all make the math work. Their official stat crew made a free throw make a miss and a dead-ball rebound. Very bizarre.”

The game went to overtime with the score tied at 57-57 and Cal went on to win 75-68 in double-overtime.

“Unfortunately, the NCAA does not allow a postgame protest in this situation, so we are left with no choice but to accept the consequence of the error and live with the result of the game,” Corum said. “Our men’s basketball program will move forward from this frustrating situation and undoubtedly finish the season strong.”