Xavier vs. Kennesaw State ending marred by controversial foul call, swallowed whistle

Through nearly three quarters of Xavier vs. Kennesaw State in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament, it seemed as if the Owls would not only pull off the upset, but would do so handily.

After withstanding an early flurry of efficiency and defensive intensity from the Musketeers, Kennesaw State shrugged off the onslaught, rebounding to build a seven-point halftime lead that expanded to double digits as the clock ticked down under 10 minutes.

Unfortunately, as the half droned on, Xavier regained their footing, taking a slim lead of their own before a back-and-forth final few minutes.

Despite the shotmaking ups and downs experienced by both sides, many fans agreed that the referees ultimately decided this heated contest in the final seconds, helping to turn an ascendent underdog story sour.

First, with the game tied and Xavier handling the ball with under 30 seconds remaining, Kennesaw State star Chris Youngblood was called for his fifth and final foul. According to the broadcast, his downward swipe in a post-rebound scrum appeared violent enough to merit the call, even though the extent of the contact was unclear.

Did referees steal chance at win from Owls in Xavier vs. Kennesaw State?

Xavier sank one of the resulting two free throws, giving Kennesaw State a chance to wind down the clock and potentially beat the buzzer with a victory.

Given what appeared to be an open lane to the basket, the Owls saw their shot at victory seized by Xavier’s Jack Nunge, who saved his “one block per game” for the perfect time.

But if a downward swipe was enough to get Youngblood sent to the showers, what exactly was different about what Xavier’s players did to secure the game’s key defensive rebound here?

Sure, the Owls could’ve avoided all of this if they hadn’t gone cold for the six-minute stretch that determined the outcome.

But the referees did them no favors with two remarkably inconsistent calls in the final seconds.