Should the UCLA vs SMU game have been decided by this goaltending call?

MANILA, Philippines – “March Madness” in the U.S. NCAA is in full swing now as 68 teams vie for the title of this year’s best college basketball team.

There is never a shortage of controversy with the tournament, but this year started off early on Friday, March 20 Manila time, when the 11th-seeded UCLA Bruins defeated the sixth-seeded Southern Methodist University Mustangs.

With 13 seconds left to play and UCLA down 2, 59-57, guard Bryce Alford chucked up a Hail Mary against two defenders. The shot appeared to be off to the side, and as SMU center Yanick Moreira reached up to control possession, referees whistled him for a goaltend, awarding three points and the lead to UCLA, 60-59.

Referees checked the monitors but deemed the play unreviewable.

SMU was able to get off two final shots but were unable to sink either as UCLA advances to the next round where they’ll meet the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers, which coincidentally defeated Iowa by the same 60-59 score.

There are quite a few who feel that the call was appropriate, like Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant, who tweeted afterwards “Yep that was a goaltend.”

Yep that was a goaltend.

— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) March 19, 2015

Let us know in the comments section, do you think the refs got this call right?

– Rappler.com