March 23, 2008
OFFICIAL SCORE OF UCLA - TEXAS A&M SECOND-ROUND
NCAA TOURNAMENT GAME CLARIFIED TO BE 51-49
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The NCAA has clarified that the official final score of the second-round game of the Division I Men's Basketball Championship between UCLA and Texas A&M, played Saturday at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. is 51-49.
With UCLA leading 51-49 in the final seconds, UCLA's Russell Westbrook chased down the ball and made a field goal after the clock expired.
"As the officials were leaving the court, they waived off the basket,
ruling the ball was still in Westbrook's hands when the clock expired,"
said Hank Nichols, national coordinator of men's basketball officiating.
"Amidst the activity courtside, there was a misinterpretation of the
signal. But the ruling on the court was that the basket should not have
counted, making the final score 51-49, not 53-49."
With the win, UCLA advanced to the regional semifinals Thursday in
Phoenix, where the Bruins will face Western Kentucky.