Atlantic 10 Official: Fans Didn’t Interfere With USC

USC and the Atlantic 10 Conference have essentially agreed to disagree over the Trojans’ controversial 73-71 overtime loss at Rhode Island on Nov. 26.

Still maintaining that a technical foul should have been called on the host Rams after team members, cheerleaders and fans rushed the court with 2.2 seconds remaining on the game clock, USC is forced to accept the defeat.

“I received a letter today from the A-10 commissioner [Linda Bruno] saying that she basically admitted that there were people on the court,” USC senior associate athletic director Daryl Gross said Wednesday. “But in her opinion, she felt the refs ad-libbed the whole situation and kept play moving, that the people on the court didn’t interfere with the flow of the game.

“We don’t agree, but that’s where it is. That’s where it ends. There is no appeal process.”

Gross said USC’s frustrations are especially justified after pleading the Trojans’ case to Pacific 10 Conference officials this week.

“We all know that a technical foul should have been called,” Gross said, which would have given the Trojans two free throws and possession. “But once the refs leave the court, the game’s over.

“Our conference would have handled it differently, maybe a reprimand for the officials.”

-- Paul Gutierrez