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UVA player admits to touching ball, refs got it right at end of Tennessee game
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- UVA player admits to touching ball, refs got it right at end of Tennessee game
This story has been updated to add new information.
No. 6 seed Tennessee is headed back to the Sweet 16 for the fourth year in a row following a 79-72 win over No. 3 Virginia in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Sunday.
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But with 27 seconds left, and the Volunteers leading 73-71, Virginia missed a short shot, and in the scrum for the rebound the ball was spiked by Tennessee's Nate Ament and bounced off some bodies before going out of bounds.
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The officials gave the ball to Tennessee, which drew a coach's challenge from UVA coach Ryan Odom after replays seemed to suggest the ball was spiked off Vols guard Bishop Boswell's head and then out of bounds without a Virginia player touching it. UVA's Dallin Hall was close to the ball, but pulled his hands away and t wasnt clear if he made contact with the ball, as it didn't change directions.
But postgame Hall admitted to touching the ball, per Ben McKee of 247Sports .
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"Yeah it happened pretty quick. I knew it hit me, barely," Hall said. "Hopefully, unfortunately it worked out the way it did. It was a super fast play, but there was a lot of opportunities and it never comes down to one play, so."
The refs stuck with the original call and gave Tennessee the ball. UT's Ja'Kobi Gillespie would add free throws, and put the game out of reach.
Did the refs make right call in Tennessee-Virginia game? Take a look and decide for yourself:
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Controversial late call in Tennessee-Virginia game helps Vols reach Sweet 16
