Guard Ryan Nembhard slumped at his locker as he attempted to sum up the pain of being on the wrong end of the game-deciding call in No. 6 Creighton’s Elite Eight loss to No. 5 San Diego State.
“It was a great game,” Nembhard said. “Sucks it had to end that way, but it is what it is.”
With a spot in the Final Four on the line and the game tied, Nembhard fouled San Diego State guard Darrion Trammell with 1.2 seconds remaining on a drive to the basket. Replays showed Nembhard had his left hand on Trammell’s right hip as he trailed him into the paint. He appeared to have a handful of his jersey before nudging Trammell after he released the ball.
Official Lee Cassell called the foul, perhaps a beat late, sending Trammell to the free throw line. With his four teammates on the floor standing at midcourt with their arms locked, Trammell missed the first shot. He took a deep breath. He swished the second shot for the final point of the Aztecs’ 57-56 win, sending the school — and the Mountain West conference — to its first Final Four.
