Rick Pitino was fouled by Jayden Nunn in the closing minutes of No. 22 St. John's 99-98 loss in overtime, icing Zubie Ejiofor at the free throw line and calling for a replay. I was furious at the decision. No. 13 Baylor.
Baylor coach Scott Drew called for a review, believing Ejiofor may have elbowed one of his players during his foul.
Ejiofor missed two free throws with 4.1 seconds left, and Jeremy Roach made a 3-pointer at the buzzer for the win.
“It was completely unethical to land a free throw shooter there at the end. You can't do something like that,” Pitino said. “[The official] The coach said we got elbowed. [his player]we didn't. It's sunny all day. That is unethical behavior. I don't like it, but that's not why we lost. ”
Pitino wasn't excited about being the general referee.
He felt Baylor got away with many fouls on many of the 16 offensive rebounds that led to 22 second-chance points.
There was also an issue with Roach's 3-point shooting clock. The game didn't seem to start as planned as Ejiofor missed his second free throw.
“I don't know what to say. The referees didn't do a very good job tonight,” Pitino said.
Coach Pitino said sophomore wing Brady Dunlap will be out Friday night due to a quadriceps injury. Cadary Richmond and Ejiofor were limited by cramps in two overtime innings.
Richmond spent most of the second overtime sitting.
St. John's made a season-high 14 3-pointers. Aaron Scott made 5 of 6 shots. …The Johnnies have allowed 32 offensive rebounds and 38 second-chance points in their last two games. … Their 18 turnovers were a season high.
