While Texas handled North Carolina in the “Game of the Week” on ESPN, a thrilling ending went down on ESPN2 between Xavier and Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse. In case you missed it, the Bulldogs’ Gordon Hayward grabbed a loose ball and made a go-ahead layup with 1.2 seconds to play after an incredible possession which featured three Butler offensive rebounds. However, during that final series, the clock had malfunctioned, stalling at the 14.7 second mark. After deliberation, the officials declared the game over, neglecting to give Xavier the extra 1.2 seconds by claiming that the clock would have run out had it not malfunctioned. Television cameras showed that Hayward’s layup left his hands at the 1.8 mark, and the officials apparently believed the clock stalled enough to let the clock run out, but not enough that Hayward’s shot wouldn’t count. Still following? If so, congratulations. It took me 15 minutes just to write that explanation. There’s a reason it took the officials more than 10 minutes to make the final decision, which led to an explosion by Xavier coach Chris Mack and some of his players. I understand their frustration, but the ruling makes sense. I don’t think the Musketeers got jobbed in the least bit—unless, of course, the clock actually did stop for more than 1.8 seconds. If that’s the case, then the game should be protested.