The MAC has suspended two of the officials involved in the wild and, frankly, embarrassing ending to double-overtime in Ball State’s win over Eastern Michigan on Saturday.
“The final play of the game was not handled appropriately by several officials and unfortunately took away from what was a highly competitive and entertaining game for the competing students and fans,” MAC commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said in a released statement. “I along with our membership have higher expectations and as a result have directed our coordinator of men’s basketball officials to take appropriate disciplinary action, including multiple-game suspensions.”
Ball State’s Francis Kiapway hit a three with 0.7 seconds left for an 88-87 win, but that shot came after a wild sequence where two travels, two jump balls and a handful of fouls should have been called.
[MORE: Watch the wild ending here]
The two officials, who have not been named, will miss two games and will be left out of consideration for MAC tournament. John Gaston, Rob Kruger and Todd Williams were the three officials that worked the game.
“The Mid-American Conference holds its officiating staff to the highest standards,” the conference wrote in a statement. “To that end, multiple errors in judgment on one play, as in this case, must be met with swift and firm disciplinary action.”