Apologies are offered up
Sampson says Cougars overreacted to goaltending no-call in Alabama loss
University of Houston men’s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson reached out to Alabama officials on Sunday to apologize for the ending of Saturday’s game in Tuscaloosa.
Sampson and UH players sought out referees for an explanation regarding a nocall they believed should have been a goaltending on the final play of an 83-82 loss to the No. 9 Crimson Tide.
Sampson was visibly distraught after the game during the postgame press conference, saying he thought the final play — on which Alabama guard JD Davison swatted Fabian White Jr.’s putback attempt near the rim — “was goaltending.” Sampson said he was given no explanation of the final play, which sent the No. 14 Cougars to just their second loss of the season.
Less than 24 hours later, Sampson called Alabama coach Nate Oats and athletic director Greg Byrne.
“Just received a call from @CoachSampsonUH, someone I’ve known since I was in high school. He sincerely apologized for how things ended after last night’s game in Coleman. He also called @nate_oats. Thanks Coach Sampson for reaching out,” Byrne posted on Twitter on Sunday night.
A video on social media showed UH assistant coach Kellen Sampson kicking a chair while walking into the tunnel to the locker room.
“At the conclusion of yesterday’s game, I allowed my emotions to bubble over. I sincerely apologize to @AlabamaMBB and their fan base for my actions. I understand my role as a coach and my reaction was not indicative of a leader of men. I will be better moving forward,” Kellen Sampson posted on Twitter.
Before his play at game’s end, Davison delivered a huge putback dunk with 33 seconds left to give Alabama the lead in what was their second straight win over a team coming off a Final Four run.
“It was crazy,” Alabama’s Jahvon Quinerly said of the go-ahead dunk. “I just looked up, and I saw him flying.
That was a huge play. His athleticism is off the charts.”
The Tide (8-1), who defeated No. 5 Gonzaga the previous weekend in Seattle, survived three late attempts by Houston (8-2). Kyler Edwards missed a 3point try before two putback attempts — including the last one by White — didn’t go in. Davison swatted White’s shot out of bounds as the clock ran out.
Kelvin Sampson and several players followed the officials off the court, arguing Davison’s swat was goaltending. Houston’s leading scorer, Marcus Sasser, had to be held back by teammates.
“It was goaltending,“Sampson said simply on Saturday. “He knocks that the ball off the rim, and there’s no call. That’s just a tough way to go down.”
Oats was celebrating the win but could empathize with the Cougars’ complaint, whether he agreed or not.
“If I was in their shoes, I would be looking for a goaltending, too,” Oats said.
Juwan Gary topped his career high by halftime and finished with 19 for the Tide against a UH team that had been allowing just 53.4 points a game, second-best nationally. Jaden Shackelford scored 18 and made five of seven 3-pointers, including two big ones late. Quinerly had 17 points and eight assists, and Davison finished with 10 points and nine rebounds.
“It was an unbelievable game,” Oats said.
Sasser led the way for Houston with 23 points, despite making just eight of 25 shots. Jamal Shead and Josh Carlton both scored 14 points, and White had 11. J’Wan Roberts had nine points and 13 rebounds — including nine of the Cougars’ 21 offensive boards.
Shackelford hit back-toback 3-pointers, making a foul shot after the first, for an 81-79 lead in the final three minutes. The score stayed that way after a Tide layup was waved off because of basket interference against Keon Ellis with 1:18 to play.
Then Sasser buried a 3pointer to give Houston the lead before Davison slammed it home off a missed jump shot by Quinerly.
Houston called a timeout with 25 seconds left to set up the final play and exited wondering what happened to the whistle.
“We played good enough to win,” Sampson said. “The whistle blows, we walk out of here with a great win. Let’s not sit here and overanalyze this. Both teams played their hearts out. Our kids deserved to win the game.”