Two calls went against Michigan in the final six seconds.
“I can’t control the last two plays, where we think we have the ball out-of-bounds,” said Michigan coach John Beilein. “We don’t, then we have a foul.”
A tie-breaking free throw by Isaac Haas, Purdue’s 7-foot-2 center, with four seconds left was the difference in Michigan’s 70-69 loss to seventh-ranked Purdue on Tuesday night at Crisler Center.
“That was a tough way to lose a game, with a foul shot,” Beilein said.
But Purdue got the ball with six seconds left when Charles Matthews (14 points) had the ball knocked away by Dakota Mathias while driving to the basket with 6.2 seconds left.
“I thought he was going to go lay that ball in,” Beilein said of Matthews. “He had leverage, he had everything. I don’t know where the ball got slapped down. He said it did not go off him. Apparently, it must have.”
The ball was originally awarded to the Wolverines, but after a lengthy review, the called was overturned. Beilein said the explanation he was given was that the ball went off Matthews’ hand.
Because the review was so long, Beilein didn’t anticipate the call being reversed.
“I asked them why it was taking so long,” he said. “If it was taking so long, then it must not be indisputable. Right?"
Beilein said they were making sure the clock was right as well, but mainly to see who the ball went off.
Purdue coach Matt Painter said he asked for the review but wasn’t sure if the ball went off his player or Matthews.
"I had no clue," Painter said. "I'm so far away from it. But you're in that moment, so you might as well ask if they'll go and look for it.
"We had to ask for it. They weren't going to it. But I was just – I was guessing."
Watch: Beilein speaks after loss to Purdue
Michigan coach John Beilein answers questions from the media after the 70-69 loss to Purdue on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018, at Crisler Center. Video by George Sipple/DFP
U-M came back from a 13-point deficit early in the second half to take a 67-63 lead with 3:47 remaining.
Vincent Edwards hit a three-pointer to tie the game, 69-69, with 2:33 remaining for the Boilermakers. U-M didn't make a basket at the end of the game.
Zavier Simpson, who led the Wolverines with 15 points, missed a jumper with 1:59 left and Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman (seven points) missed a 3-point try with 58 seconds remaining.
Michigan had a foul to give and used it with 4.8 seconds left. Purdue inbounded from the sideline near their bench and wanted to give the ball to Haas. Moe Wagner fouled him as he knocked the ball away, sending Haas to the line.
“I’ll wait to watch the video,” Beilein said of the call against Wagner. “I don’t know if those were good calls or not. I think that every official wants the players to play the game. He hopes that’s how he officiates. The players determine the game.”
Haas made the front end of the one-and one, then missed the second. Michigan rushed the ball up court and Matthews took a desperation shot that hit the rim but didn’t go in.
Beilein said they had a play ready if Haas made the second free throw.
“With 3.6 (seconds), you can get from end to end,” Beilein said. “I had my mind made up, if the right guy got it, you could probably get over half court.”
Beilein was left to wonder what might have been if U-M had kept possession with six seconds left.
“I really was convinced we had a play set up, we were going to win the game,” Beilein said. “And all of a sudden, they win the game.”
Contact George Sipple: gsipple@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @georgesipple. Download our Wolverines Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!
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