TCU’s Jamie Dixon upset that USC wasn’t called for goaltending on game-winning shot
TCU coach Jamie Dixon felt goaltending should’ve been called on USC’s game-winning shot on Friday night at Dickies Arena.
With the game tied at 78, USC got a rebound off a missed free throw by TCU’s Kevin Samuel with 10 seconds left.
The Trojans brought it down the floor and scored the game-winning points with 0.2 seconds left. Trojans forward Nick Rakocevic tipped in a missed layup attempt by Ethan Anderson.
Dixon felt the ball hadn’t left the cylinder when Rakocevic touched it, and should have been called for basket interference.
“I’m sure if you see it on video, you’ll have the same questions I have,” Dixon said.
USC coach Andy Enfield called it a “great play” by Rakocevic.
“Ethan got in the lane, made a good move and then Nick did a great job of just going,” Enfield said. “He’s a terrific offensive rebounder and a great player. He made just a big-time play.”
Dixon called a timeout after it and asked the officials to review the play. But that play is only subject to review if goaltending is called on the floor.
“They can’t review it,” Dixon said. “They’ve changed the rule, but you can’t review that unless they call goaltending.”
Dixon compared it to last year when LSU upset Kentucky 73-71 on a tip-in at the buzzer last February. That controversial play was reviewed and upheld as officials determined no basket interference.
Dixon feels this play will be studied in the future as to whether it should be reviewed.
“They’ll probably look at,” Dixon said. “This game might not get as much attention as Kentucky-LSU. We’ve got to see what it says. Some people may not think it was goaltending.”
Dixon went on to say the loss was “on us, not any calls.”
TCU ended up turning the ball over with 0.2 seconds to end the game, as USC left with an 80-78 victory.
TCU (6-2) returns to action against Winthrop on Wednesday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Schollmaier Arena.
This story was originally published December 7, 2019 at 12:08 AM.
