JT Toppin, Grant McCasland ejected after egregious call by Big 12 officials

As if playing in Houston isn't tough enough, the Big 12 officiating crew working Texas Tech's game against the Cougars on Saturday dealt the Red Raiders an unfathomable blow just minutes into the game when they ejected leading scorer and rebounder JT Toppin after he unintentionally kicked a Houston player in the groin while making a cross-court pass. The play was reviewed by the officials during a timeout and then it was ruled to be a Flagrant-2 foul which is an automatic ejection.

After the play, head coach Grant McCasland was so infuriated that he picked up two technical fouls and was also ejected from the game. Fans around the country, not just around Raiderland, were in abject bewilderment at the call against Toppin.

Even the ESPN broadcasters calling the game and working the halftime report said that the call was at worst a Flagrant-1 foul, which would not have resulted in an ejection for Toppin. However, the inept Big 12 officiating crew made the unfathomable decision to send Toppin to the locker room leaving the Red Raiders short-handed in a major way.

However, even without Toppin or McCasland on the sidelines, the Red Raiders lead the game 41-37 at halftime. Guards Chance McMillian and Elijah Hawkins have 13 and 10 points respectively to lead the way.

Meanwhile, Tech is shooting 52% against the stingiest defense in the nation. Houston has given up an average of just over 55 points per game this year and the Red Raiders are only 14 points shy of that number after 20 minutes even though they have been without Toppin for the last 16 minutes plus.

Hopefully, the Red Raiders will have what it takes to hang on in the second half. But it will be tough if the officiating doesn't improve.