‘There was contact with Khi’: Musselman frustrated by late no-call at Alabama

Arkansas was in prime position to steal a win at No. 16 Alabama on Saturday when Khalif Battle drove the lane and found Makhi Mitchell on a drop-off pass near the rim.

Mitchell, who finished with 18 points and four blocks, went up for a two-hand dunk that would have put the Razorbacks ahead 76-71 with 34 seconds remaining. But the dunk didn’t go down.

Mitchell appeared to be contacted by Crimson Tide forward Nick Pringle on the play. But there was no whistle.

More from Natty State Sports: What stood out in Arkansas’ loss at Alabama on Saturday

A mere 13 seconds later, Alabama guard Latrell Wrightsell buried a right-wing three to tie the game at 74-74. On the final possession of regulation, Battle settled for a right-wing three that missed short.

The Crimson Tide eventually won 92-88 in overtime, handing Arkansas yet another gut-punch loss and its first losing record entering postseason play since the 2009-10 season.

One play rarely decides the outcome of a 40- or 45-minute game, but the sequence, without question, loomed large.

As you might expect, Eric Musselman was far from pleased when asked about the play following the loss.

“That hasn’t happened for us all season long, quite frankly,” Musselman said of the no-call. “I saw the body contact. It’s not worth commenting. It’s not worth sending things in [to the SEC office]. Alabama beat us. No excuses.

“But there was contact with Khi. What are they going to tell us? That after review we’ll find out tomorrow that it was missed. But it doesn’t change the outcome of the game.”

Trevon Brazile, who added 12 points and 6 rebounds in 30 minutes, believed Mitchell was fouled as well. Brazile had a great view of the play as he was standing a few feet behind Mitchell.

“That was a big point in the game,” he said. “When that was a no-call, that killed us, I felt like.”

Prior to the start of overtime, ESPN play-by-play voice Tom Hart said “the challenge at the rim” by Pringle was the play of the game.

“Had Mitchell finished that, it’s game over,” Hart added.