Okay, I just found a worse way to lose
Monday night's most interesting scoreline, and its craziest finish -- and arguably the craziest finish of the 2012 college hoops season to date -- came during Morgan State 73, Delaware State 72. And you won't believe how Delaware State lost.
So here's what happened: Morgan State's free throws with seven seconds remaining gave them a 71-70 lead on the final possession. Delaware State inbounded the ball to guard Jay Threatt, who raced down the court and fired up a jumper. Threatt was 8-of-12 from the field Monday night, so we can't fault the shot selection, but he missed. And just when Delaware State thought all hope was lost, forward Tahj Tate, dunked home a tip-in with less than a second remaining. It counted. Delaware 72, Morgan State 71.
Naturally, that's when all you-know-what broke loose. Fans stormed the court, rushing Tate and his teammates: The Hornets had come all the way back from a 41-24 halftime deficit and won, drawing within one game of Savannah State's lead in the race for MEAC regular-season title with one more game to play. Big, big win. Ain't no party like a Dover party, and so on and so forth.
And just as Delaware State fans thought it was safe to experience some joy, the officiating crew was there to brutally rip their hearts out. I'll pass the mic to the Associated Press. Just the facts, AP:
Most of Memorial Hall thought the game was over as fans and players ran on the court to celebrate. But the game officials conferenced, charged Delaware State with a technical foul for delay of game and set the clock back to 1.1 seconds remaining.
Aric Brooks made the two free throws for Morgan State and the Bears, awarded possession following the technical foul, ran out the clock for the win.
I mean ... really? Really, officials Bill Covington, Sr., Everett Summers and Jackie Sanders? (Thanks, Statsheet.) You actually assessed a delay of game technical foul on a crowd that had assumed there was no time left on the clock after a tip-in buzzer-beating dunk? REALLY?
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