On Sunday, the San Diego State Aztecs made history by earning their first Final Four appearance in program history with a thrilling 57-56 victory over the Creighton Bluejays. The game was a nail-biter that ended in controversy, bringing back memories of the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl win over the Philadelphia Eagles, where James Bradberry received a “holding penalty.”
The game was tied at 56-56 with the clock winding down when Creighton’s Ryan Nembhard was called for a foul on San Diego State’s Darrion Trammell as he attempted a potential game-winning shot. Trammell missed the first free throw but made the second, giving San Diego State a one-point lead.
Creighton needed a miracle but didn’t get one, with a home-run pass getting deflected out of bounds. The officials went to the monitor to review if the Bluejays would get one last chance with ticks left on the clock, but after taking quite a long time to look at the monitor, the game was determined over.
While the foul call was controversial, a foul is a foul, and upon reviewing the replay, it was hard to argue that it was the wrong call. It’s unfortunate that such big moments can be decided by a foul call, but in this case, it was necessary to make the call.
San Diego State will now face off against Florida Atlantic in an unexpected Final Four matchup. It’s been a wild ride for both of these upstart teams, and it’s a shame that one of them will have to lose next weekend. For now, both programs can bask in the glory of their deep NCAA Tournament runs.
Overall, this game was a testament to the hard work and determination of both teams. San Diego State fought hard and deserved their victory, while Creighton played valiantly and should be proud of their effort.
It’s exciting to see new teams make it to the Final Four, and this year’s tournament has been full of surprises. Fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the matchup between San Diego State and Florida Atlantic, and it’s sure to be a thrilling game.
James Bradberry thinks the official shouldn’t have made that foul call
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) March 26, 2023
You can’t call that if you don’t call the other calls against SD State.
— Ashton (@kyle_chap17) March 26, 2023
If that's a foul, there were at least 200 fouls throughout the game.
— OlatheBob (@BobOlathe) March 26, 2023
Debating the Decisive Foul: San Diego State’s Controversial Victory over Creighton on the Road to Final Four”
San Diego State defeated Creighton 57-56 to reach the Final Four after a controversial foul was called on Ryan Nembhard. With the game tied at 56-56, Nembhard fouled Darrion Trammell as he attempted a shot with 1.2 seconds remaining.
Trammell missed the first free throw but made the second to give San Diego State the win. The call on the court was reviewed and confirmed as the correct decision, but the outcome drew debate on social media with some accusing officials of deciding the game.
However, the foul was clear, and the officials were right to call it, regardless of the stakes of the moment. Trammell’s shot may or may not have been affected, but the foul was a clear personal foul, and had it occurred earlier in the game, there would have been no controversy.
