The 11-seeded UCLA Bruins defeated the 6-seeded SMU Mustangs, 60-59, in-part because of a controversial goaltending call on a three-point attempt with 13 seconds left in regulation. The Mustangs blew a seven-point lead with 1:26 left; the Bruins went on an 8-0 run to end the game and advance to the Round of 32 in the South Region.

Bruins sophomore guard Bryce Alford, son of UCLA head coach Steve Alford, had a masterful game as he scored 27 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field. All nine of his made field goals were from behind the arc, including the goaltending call that gave UCLA the lead. Alford’s nine made three-pointers is a UCLA record.

Senior guard Norman Powell added 19 points for the Bruins, while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out four assists. Powell also went 9-of-9 from the free throw as the senior was aggressive all night. Kevon Looney scored six points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

The Mustangs were led by junior guard Nic Moore who scored 24 points on 7-of-18 shooting from the field, and 6-of-11 shooting from behind the arc. Markus Kennedy came off the bench and dominated the paint with 16 points and nine rebounds. Senior big man Yanick Moreira added six points and eight rebounds.

UCLA led at halftime, 34-30, and at the 14:40 mark in the second half the Bruins extended their lead to 10 points, 40-30. The Mustangs didn’t score their first point in the second half until there was 14:30 left in the game. After the official timeout with 11:56 left the Bruins were still up 10 points, 44-34, but UCLA wouldn’t score a single point until the 4:16 mark in the half. The Mustangs scored 19 unanswered points during that stretch and led by nine points. Nic Moore scored 11 of the 19 unanswered points.

Once the Bruins ended their scoring drought Bryce Alford caught fire with 12 points, all of which were three-pointers, in the final 3:40 left in regulation. Coming out of a timeout with 22 seconds left, UCLA was down one point. A play was drawn up and Bryce Alford put up an off-balanced three-point attempted that looked wide right. However, Yanick Moreira for SMU made contact with the ball as is ascended and the officials called goaltending which gave UCLA a one-point lead. In the final 12 seconds the Mustangs couldn’t make a shot to win the game, ending SMU’s tournament run.

This call is one of the most controversial calls in college basketball history, and could bring up talks whether a play like that could be reviewed. As it stands goaltending is not a reviewable play and even though it wasn’t 100 percent clear whether it’s goaltending it should be looked at none the less to make a more accurate decision.