Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Missed call crucial in Gonzaga’s win over Northwestern.
SALT LAKE CITY — Chris Collins was right. It was goaltending all the way.
The Northwestern coach also was wrong. At the worst time possible.
After not getting the call, Collins stomped onto the court and drew a technical foul with 4:54 left in Saturday’s game, sucking life out of a frenetic comeback that fell short in a 79-73 loss to top-seeded Gonzaga in the West Region.
What a strange, heartbreaking way to close out the school’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Adding to it: The NCAA released a statement acknowledging the call was missed, and Collins was sitting at the postgame interview while he heard it read to him for the first time.
“I appreciate the apology,” said Collins, the venom practically dripping off his tongue. “It makes me feel great.”
Former Findlay Prep star Nigel Williams-Goss finished with 20 points, eight rebounds and four assists to power Gonzaga (34-1), which led by as many as 22 points in the first half before seeing the lead dwindle to five.
The arena, drenched in purple, was rocking, and all the momentum was in Northwestern’s corner.
The Wildcats (24-12) got the ball down to Dererk Pardon for a pointblank shot that was on its way in. Gonzaga 7-footer Zach Collins, a former Bishop Gorman High standout, reached up through the net and deflected the ball out. No whistle blew.
Gonzaga got the rebound and started down court. Chris Collins ran onto the court, charged toward the referee and gestured as if he were knocking a ball out of the hoop from the bottom.
An automatic “T.” The NCAA’s postgame statement also said Collins was hit with the technical for violating “bench decorum” rules by stepping onto the court with the ball in play.
On the other end, Williams-Goss made both free throws and Northwestern never drew closer.
But if Chris Collins had any regrets, they weren’t apparent in the aftermath.
“If I see a guy from another team put his hand through the rim and block a shot, I’m going to react to it if the play isn’t called,” he said. “I think all of you would. Of course. That cuts it to three. We’re all emotional. We’re coming back from 20 down.”
Zach Collins said he was unclear about what exactly happened.
“I thought I blocked the shot, and they thought it was a foul,” he said. “We weren’t really worried about (that). I honestly can’t really remember.”
NEXT: Gonzaga vs. No. 4-seeded West Virginia, Thursday, San Jose, California.