ACC officials admit to mistake

John Clougherty, the ACC's coordinator of basketball officials, made the following statement about a timing error at the end of the Clemson-Duke game Thursday night.

"The league acknowledges that a timing error was made in not starting the game clock at the correct time, when the ball was stolen by Clemson's Vernon Hamilton off the in-bounded pass from Duke's Josh McRoberts."

Following Hamilton's steal, the guard hit a jumper to tie the game at 66, but officials realized that the game clock didn't start until right before ball went through the basket. Then it continued to run, going from 5.0 seconds to 1.8 seconds. The clock should have started when Hamilton touched the ball and stopped after his shot was made.

Officials, after studying TV replays, decided that 4.4 seconds should have remained on the clock, but they didn't take into consideration that the clock never started when Hamilton stole the ball.

ESPN, which broadcast the game, looked at the replays also and determined that 2.4 seconds should have been left on the clock. But, with those two additional seconds put on the clock by ACC officials, Duke was able to get the ball down the court and score on a David-McClure layup as the buzzer sounded. Duke won 68-66.

"We came to this conclusion after completing a review of the game film as well as internal conversations with the crew of officials, both head coaches and conference office staff," said Clougherty. "At this point, as with most league officiating matters, this situation has been handled and resolved internally."

For his part, Clemson coach Oliver Purnell seems to be taking it all in stride, at least publicly.

"I spoke with John Clougherty of the ACC this morning and we discussed what took place at the end of the Duke game last night. He acknowledged that there was a timing error and the matter will be handled internally. I am satisfied with their review in this matter."

Then Purnell turned his attention to the Tigers' next game.

"We now need to put 100 percent of our focus on our game with
Virginia on Sunday and that is what we will do starting with today's practice," Purnell said Friday.

- Patrick Hite