An unusual technical foul committed by Josh Perkins proved costly in Gonzaga’s loss to Texas Tech on Saturday.
Gonzaga had closed their deficit to two points at 71-69 following a Zach Norvell Jr layup with 12 seconds left in their Elite Eight game. They needed either a stop or to have Texas Tech blow their free throws to have a shot at tying the game. Unfortunately a boneheaded play by Perkins cost them.
Perkins was defending the Texas Tech inbound pass and reached out, making contact with Matt Mooney.
Josh Perkins gets called for the technical foul after reaching over the sideline on the inbounds pass. pic.twitter.com/izpYlBMXFe
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 31, 2019
Perkins was called for a tech, which allowed the Red Raiders to put their best free throw shooter at the line. They chose 92.1 percent free throw shooter Davide Moretti, who made both shots. Texas Tech then got the ball back as well and got fouled, going to the line again. They made both of their next two shots, turning a 2-point game into a 6-point game in a matter of seconds.
Gonzaga faced a tough challenge to tie the game down two with 12 seconds left, but that scenario was doable. Being down by six with nine seconds left was too much.
After the game, Perkins acknowledged he made a “bonehead” play.
Gonzaga senior Josh Perkins on his critical out-of-bounds foul late in Elite Eight loss to Texas Tech: “Bonehead play. Something I will think about forever.”
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) March 31, 2019
Perkins is a senior, which makes the play an especially difficult way for his career to end. The calls were not kind to Gonzaga at the end of the game.
