The No. 8 Arkansas Razorbacks and No. 9 Seton Hall Pirates went head-to-head in a wire to wire NCAA Tournament matchup expected to end with a big finish. But it was a questionable flagrant foul call that extended Arkansas’ lead to three points down the stretch and cost the Pirates in a 77-71 loss that dashed their hopes at advancing to the next round.
This controversial flagrant foul ruined Seton Hall’s last March Madness chance
It was originally called a common foul on the floor.
With less than 20 seconds left in the second half and the Pirates down just one, Seton Hall’s Desi Rodriguez intentionally fouled Arkansas’ Jaylen Barford and was originally called for a common foul on the floor. But officials reversed the ruling into a flagrant foul one, awarding the Razorbacks two free throws and the ball.
TV analysts later debated Rodriguez incidentally tripped and shoved Barford without making a play on the ball, a violation that warranted a flagrant foul call. Barford went on to make both free throws, and Seton Hall intentionally fouled when Arkansas was given possession again.
The flagrant foul came after a costly turnover by Seton Hall’s Kadeem Carrington.
Arkansas’ pressure defense forced Carrington to travel with 24 seconds left, forfeiting a possession in which a surging Pirates team could have taken the lead.
The questionable finished put a stain on a game riddled with highlight moments.
The first half was dominated by Arkansas’ Moses Kingsley, who made his first five shots for 11 points in the game’s first 20 minutes. He was dominant on both ends for the Razorbacks, picking up three blocks, including an impressive block-score sequence near the end of the half.
The Pirates didn’t learn their lesson in the first half, and Kingsley reminded Seton Hall the paint belongs to him with an emphatic block on a Rodriguez poster dunk attempt in the second half.
Kingsley finished with 23 points (10-of-13 shooting) and four blocks, but Seton Hall managed to pull away in the second half. The Pirates used a 12-1 run to build an eight-point lead midway through the second period. Arkansas, though, raged back to tie the game at 68 with five minutes remaining.
Seton Hall took a one-point lead with 1:40 left by way of layup by Carrinton, who finished with 22 points on eight-of-17 shooting. But it was Carrington’s late-game turnover costed the Pirates a shot at advancing to the next round.
The NCAA’s officiating coordinator explained the call like this:
It’s unfortunate such an exciting game ended this way.
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