Dan Hurley is known for being one of the most animated figures in college basketball history, and the UConn coach’s emotions got the best of him at a bad time on Monday.
Memphis beat UConn 99-97 in the first round of The Maui Invitational at Lahaina Civic Center in Maui, Hawaii. The game went to overtime after Huskies guard Solo Ball drained a three-pointer just before the final buzzer in regulation:
Solo. Ball. pic.twitter.com/ujgqsZ2nCS
— UConn Men's Basketball (@UConnMBB) November 25, 2024
The teams were tied 92-92 with 40 seconds remaining in overtime when UConn big man Liam McNeeley was called for an over-the-back foul. That awarded Memphis two free throws. Hurley then gave the Tigers two additional free throws when the coach was called for a technical foul for screaming at the officials.
Oh my god a ref FINALLY stood up to Dan Hurley and gave him a tech pic.twitter.com/aCL1RD4Ana
— NCAA Buzzer Beaters & Game Winners (@NCAABuzzerBters) November 25, 2024
Hurley had screamed at the officiating crew on multiple occasions throughout the game. UConn’s bench had also received a technical foul earlier in the contest.
Memphis hit all four free throws to take a 96-92 lead. The Huskies did not have enough magic left in them to erase the two-score deficit, so Hurley’s technical foul was very costly.
Hurley has led UConn to back-to-back titles, so his style serves him well. It also once resulted in him being ejected for an absurd reason, but in this case the official appeared to have no choice.
No. 2 UConn fell to 4-1 with the loss. Memphis improved to 5-0.
