Thursday’s matchup between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Samford Bulldogs was a thrilling contest that could have gone either way. But unfortunately, a blown call by the referees all but decided the game, understandably leading to a number of angry college basketball fans.
Early on in the game, it looked like Kansas was going to roll over Samford in this matchup, largely overmatching them when it came to the talent on the floor.
Samford trailed by as much as 22 points in the second half. But they continued to battle, ultimately cutting into the lead and making it a one-possession game with only seconds to go in the game.
It looked like they would have a game-winning shot attempt with just under 15 seconds left in the second half after A.J. Staton-McCray appeared to get a clean chase down block on Kansas’s Nick Timberlake. But unfortunately, a whistle was called, completely haunting Samford’s momentum in the game.
Samford's A.J. Staton-McCray gets a clean block on Kansas' Nick Timberlake — but is whistled for a foul.
Timberlake went on to make both free throws. Kansas gets a huge break. pic.twitter.com/Me5i8SzgP8
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) March 22, 2024
Here is a closer look at the play, where it appears to be quite clear that this block attempt was 100 percent clean and should have been a no-call.
Kansas up 90-89 with 15 seconds left and this 100% clean block was called a foul 🥴 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/mZ0Uah1LDc
— Bad Sports Refs (@BadSportsRefs) March 22, 2024
Instead, Timberlake would go on to make both of his free throws, giving the Jayhawks a three-point lead that they would not relinquish.
Naturally, fans had plenty to say about the call. And just about everyone seems to believe that the referees totally impacted the end result of this game in the worst way possible.
Samford got robbed.pic.twitter.com/qBk65Bo13Z
— Mid-Major Madness (@mid_madness) March 22, 2024
SAMFORD WAS ROBBED. THIS IS ALL BALL pic.twitter.com/Mh0YZvMeTa
— Jacob Rhymer (@Rhymetime05) March 22, 2024
Nick Timberlake wasn’t even touched lmao all ball samford robbed pic.twitter.com/IHFmUPJ04S
— John (@iam_johnw) March 22, 2024
SAMFORD WAS ABSOLUTELY ROBBED OF A POTENTIAL INSANE MARCH MOMENT. pic.twitter.com/cj4WqSiJt9
— Zach Bollinger (@zachbollinger18) March 22, 2024
It’s completely embarrassing that a team gets sent home by a play under 20 seconds remaining due to an officiating error.
Unacceptable in a win or go home tournament. They reviewed 5 plays in the last two minutes but couldn’t look at this.
Samford was ROBBED. pic.twitter.com/Lx5CPaSaUZ
— Boothe Bets (@BootheBets) March 22, 2024
Samford getting robbed in plain sight SMH🤬pic.twitter.com/TQfYcD0gpV
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) March 22, 2024
For a team like Samford to lose in this way after their unbelievable comeback in this game has to be truly devastating for them.
Bad calls naturally happen. But in this instance, college basketball fans were absolutely robbed of what could have been an all-time great March Madness moment.
