Several fans were upset over a technical foul called right after a major highlight during Friday’s college basketball game between Purdue and Illinois.
The Boilermakers led the Fighting Illini 40-33 with under two minutes left in the first half at State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. Purdue guard Braden Smith grabbed a defensive rebound off a missed three-pointer by Illinois center Tomislav Ivisic.
The long rebound allowed Purdue to counter in a hurry. Boilermakers guard Myles Colvin snuck behind the defense and slammed an alley-oop pass made by Smith all the way from halfcourt. However, Colvin was called for a technical foul for what one referee considered to be pulling himself up on the rim.
Given the momentum Colvin had when he leapt for the dunk, it seemed reasonable that the Purdue wing simply hung up on the rim to brace himself for a safer landing. Referee Jeffrey Anderson saw things differently.
Fans on X were not happy with Anderson’s call, which awarded Illinois a technical free throw.
Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis, who entered the game shooting nearly 84% from the line, missed the technical free throw to keep the score at 42-33.
As hoops fans know all too well, the ball does not lie.
