On second thought: League official says UNLV should have had extra 0.1 on clock

By Taylor Bern

Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014 | 9:41 a.m.

Saturday’s loss is still a loss, but maybe Monday’s confirmation of a timing issue will provide the Rebels with some level of satisfaction. Maybe.

UNLV lost 91-90 in overtime at Boise State on Saturday when Deville Smith’s last-second 3-pointer was reviewed and waved off because his fingertips were still on the ball with 0.0 on the clock above the basket. There was consternation at the end because the red light around UNLV’s backboard, which usually helps determine if a shot was made in time, didn’t go off.

Lead official Randy McCall said after the game the red light didn’t matter because he was only looking at the clock, which is what officials are supposed to look at in determining a last-second shot. But what if UNLV Smith had 0.1 second more?

According to UNLV coach Dave Rice, Mountain West and Pac-12 coordinator of officials Bobby Dibler called him Monday to say that after further review the Rebels should have had 3.4 seconds instead of 3.3 when they inbounded the ball to Smith for his final heave.

Boise State’s Derrick Marks hit a go-ahead shot in the lane and after the ball rattled around the rim it swished through and left 3.3 seconds on the clock. However, some UNLV fans immediately cried foul, saying that extra time had run off the clock.

There was a screen shot going around on Sunday and Monday that showed the ball completely through the basket with 3.4 remaining. That was probably all Dibler needed to see to confirm what Rice already believed.

“He said after the Marks basket we should have had 3.4 seconds,” Rice said.

Obviously there's no guarantee the game would play out exactly the same way, but with everything else the same an extra 0.1 seconds is all Smith would have needed for the game-winner.

McCall was asked about the clock after Marks’ shot and on the ensuing inbounds pass after the game. He said there was nothing wrong with it.

“Yes, everything started on time,” McCall said.

Dibler’s consolation prize is just that. UNLV still lost the game and could still blame itself for blowing a five-point lead in the final 50 seconds.

However, in a perfect world it’s confirmed the Rebels should have had 3.4 seconds to pull off a miracle – and that 0.1 could have made all the difference.

Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.