After the game, Zarba told a pool reporter the …

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Lead referee Zach Zarba said Ausar Thompson’s left arm extended to Merrill’s head and neck area and “there was follow-through,” and he assessed Thompson a flagrant foul, penalty 1, which meant Thompson could stay in the game. “I just felt like it was a moving screen (on Merrill),” Thompson said. “I was just hoping that whatever (the referees) decided, I was going to be able to keep playing.” After the game, Zarba told a pool reporter the referees did see Thompson’s hand on Merrill’s neck but didn’t throw him out because the play was missing one of three criteria needed for an ejection. “The criteria for a flagrant foul 2 would be windup, impact and follow-through,” Zarba said. “On this particular play, there was impact and follow-through, but there was no windup. It was unnecessary contact but also not excessive, so that’s why it wasn’t upgraded to a flagrant 2.”

New York Times

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: After the game, Zarba told a pool reporter the …

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