The refs in the NMSU-MSU game blew it, but would it have really made a difference?

Friday was a pretty uneventful day, at least in terms of this year's tournament.

But if there is one talking point coming out of today, it is the officiating at the end of the Michigan State-New Mexico State.

There are two issues at play here. The first is what will go down in New Mexico State lore as 'the lane violation'. Down by two with 19 seconds left, Troy Gillenwater was called for a lane violation on a missed free throw by Raymar Morgan. Morgan would hit the next attempt, pushing the Spartan lead to three. The second problem involved clock management. After a scrum for a rebound, the ball went out of bounds off of Michigan State with 0.3 seconds left, but it looked like there should have been more time on the clock. The referees didn't use the monitor to check the time.

There's no video up of it yet (hopefully it will be up by tomorrow, and we will be sure to post it when it is), but anyone that has an issue with the lane violation call is wrong. On the video, it is clearly visible. Gillenwater stepped over the hash mark on the lane before Raymar Morgan shot his free throw. That is the absolute definition of a lane violation. No one should have a problem with the referees making the right call in crunch time. If that ref doesn't make the call, then Michigan State has a legitimate beef.


The clock issue is the bigger problem. I don't understand how the referees don't go check the monitors to make sure the time on the clock is correct. While the difference between 0.3 seconds and 0.6 seconds (which it seemed like would have been the correct amount of time left based on the replays I saw) is minimal, it is the difference between being able to catch-and-shoot and having to tip a ball in.

That said, even with 0.6 seconds left, it would have taken a miracle for the Aggies to tie this game. Crazier things have happened, I know. But lets call a spade a spade. New Mexico State had very little chance to win this game after missing two threes on that final possession.

New Mexico State fans can't be upset about the lane violation call that was made. It was correct.

They can be upset about the refs not checking the time left on the clock, but in all likelihood it didn't make a difference.

Don't tarnish this game by complaining about the refereeing. Celebrate the fact that your team was able to come back from down 14 against a coach and a program that has been one of the best in the country the last decade.