Social Media Reacts to Controversial Foul Call Against Samford
Thursday night was a heartbreaker for the Samford Bulldogs.
After clawing back from a 22-point deficit to Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks, the Bulldogs were within striking distance after a Rylan Jones layup made it a one-point game with just over five minutes left, 79-78 Jayhawks.
Kansas would weather that storm, but Samford would once again cut the lead to one point after Bulldog’s Jaden Campbell buried a three with 0:20 left. From there, things got crazy.
On the ensuing possession, and with just 0:15 left, referees made a questionable foul call against Bulldogs guard AJ Staton-McCray, giving Kansas two free-throw shots that would ultimately put their lead out of reach.
In one of the most incredible chase-down blocks you will ever see, Staton-McCray trailed Nick Timberlake on a fast break dunk attempt and appeared to get all-ball on the attempt.
In case you missed the play, here’s a look.
Timberlake knocked down both free throws to extend the score to 92-89, and Samford would be forced to attempt a three on the next possession, which they missed. Kansas would go on to win, 93-89.
It was a killer effort from Staton-McCray, but unfortunately, the referee saw a foul, which ended up changing the game.
The social media outrage that followed the call, especially since it favored Kansas, was something to behold.
With the win, Kansas advances to the Round of 32, where it will face Gonzaga, fresh off an 86-65 win over No. 12 seed McNeese.
