Did officials blow that out of bounds call against Wichita State? (Video)

Marshall beat Wichita State thanks in large part to a gift call it got from officials.

Upsets happen in March Madness, but what makes the sting burn even worse is when a bad call busts your bracket. That’s where people are at, coping with their busted bracket after Marshall took out Wichita State in the first-round of the tournament.

To the credit of the Thundering Herd, they pretty soundly beat Wichita State for most of the game and held off a late push. It was in that late push where folks had an issue with the way things ended.

On a critical possession with a win still within the grasp of the Shockers, an out of bounds call went against Wichita State and gave possession back to Marshall.

In real time, it was a tough call to make. The officials made the decision that the ball went out on Wichita State, with the idea that if it was the wrong call it would be identified on instant replay.

The play indeed went to review, but the call didn’t change. This, despite the fact that it appeared the ball pretty clearly, goes off the hands of a Marshall player. A freeze frame on the final moments before the ball goes out of bounds appears to very clearly show a Marshall player touching the ball last.

The replay, which was looked at for several minutes, also appears to show it’s Wichita State ball.

After it was determined that the possession arrow would stay with Marshall, the Herd proceeded to dunk the inbound pass and run away with the game.

Needless to say, people with eyes weren’t happy with the call.

That’s not the way you want your bracket busted, and now the question is whether or not the officials blew the call. It’s not the first time a bracket has been busted up by a questionable call late in the game, and it won’t be the last.

It appears that the wrong call was made, but it’s the one that was made. We all have to live with our decision to put so much faith in a team whose tournament fate came down not to talent but the blow of a whistle.