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 both free throws, setting up Baylor’s game-winning shot. @BaylorAthletics/YouTubeEjiofor 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.
Kadary Richmond drives on V.J. Edgecombe during St. John’s 99-98 double-overtime loss to Baylor on Nov. 21, 2024. St. John's AthleticsPitino 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.
