Rick Pitino fumes over referees’ decision to ice Zuby Ejiofor late in St. John’s loss
Rick Pitino was furious with the officials’ decision to ice Zuby Ejiofor at the free-throw line by going to replay after he was fouled by Jayden Nunn in the final seconds of No. 22 St. John’s double-overtime, 99-98 loss to 13th-ranked Baylor.
Baylor coach Scott Drew called for a review, thinking Ejiofor may have hit one of his players with an elbow when they fouled him.
Ejiofor missed two free throws with 4.1 seconds to go and Jeremy Roach won the game at the buzzer with a 3-pointer.
“Icing my free-throw shooter there at the end was totally unethical. You can’t do something like that,” Pitino said. “[The official] said the coach said we elbowed [his player], which we did not do. Clear as day. It’s an unethical move. I don’t like it, but that’s not the reason we lost.”
Pitino was not thrilled with the officiating overall.
He felt Baylor got away with a lot of fouls on many of their 16 offensive rebounds that led to 22 second-chance points.
There was also a question of the clock on Roach’s 3-pointer. It didn’t appear to start on time after Ejiofor missed his second free throw.
“I don’t know what to say, the referees didn’t do a very good job tonight,” Pitino said.
Pitino said sophomore wing Brady Dunlap won’t be available Friday night due to a quad injury. Kadary Richmond and Ejiofor were limited by cramps in the two overtimes.
Richmond sat for most of the second overtime.
St. John’s hit a season-high 14 3-pointers. Aaron Scott made 5 of 6. … The Johnnies have allowed 32 offensive rebounds and 38 second-chance points in the last two games. … Their 18 turnovers were a season high.