Auburn Coach Defends Controversial Late-Game Foul Call Against Kentucky

Steven Pearl says Collin Chandler "extended his arms" but notes officials let physical play go throughout the game.

Feb. 22, 2026 at 5:25am

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In a close game between Auburn and Kentucky, a controversial offensive foul call on Kentucky's Collin Chandler in the final seconds allowed Auburn to steal the win. Auburn head coach Steven Pearl defended the call, saying Chandler extended his arms, though he acknowledged the officials let a lot of physical play go throughout the game on both sides.

Why it matters

The late-game foul call was a major factor in determining the outcome of the close game between the two SEC rivals. The officiating was a point of contention throughout, with both teams receiving questionable calls, raising questions about how the game was managed by the referees.

The details

With Kentucky leading by one point and 14 seconds left, Chandler got tangled up with Auburn's Kevin Overton while trying to receive an inbounds pass. Chandler was called for an offensive foul, which gave Auburn the ball back. Auburn then scored a layup with 1.2 seconds left to win the game. Pearl said Chandler extended his arms, but also noted the officials let a lot of physical play go throughout the game on both sides.

  • With 14 seconds left in regulation, Collin Chandler was called for an offensive foul.
  • Auburn scored a layup with 1.2 seconds left to win the game.

The players

Collin Chandler

A Kentucky player who was called for a controversial offensive foul in the final seconds of the game.

Kevin Overton

An Auburn player who was involved in the play that led to the offensive foul call on Chandler.

Steven Pearl

The head coach of the Auburn basketball team, who defended the controversial foul call after the game.

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What they’re saying

“K.O.'s in a stance. K.O.'s back is to me, so I didn't see the play. But it looked like (Chandler) extended his arms, and we got the offensive foul, so we were able to get the ball back and did a great job of getting an inside touch so we could at least have the opportunity to get an offensive rebound.”

— Steven Pearl, Auburn Head Coach

“I thought there was a foul on every single possession the first five minutes of the game. I think the officials tried to let both teams play through it. Because, I mean, if every foul was called on both ends, it would have been, you know, both teams would have shot 50 free throws. So, yeah, a lot of physicality on both ends. I thought they were holding us on every single entry pass. I think it works both ways.”

— Steven Pearl, Auburn Head Coach

What’s next

The officiating in this game is likely to be a topic of discussion and debate in the days and weeks following the close contest between the two SEC rivals.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the challenges of officiating a highly physical college basketball matchup, with both teams receiving questionable calls throughout. The controversial late-game foul call that decided the outcome is sure to be a point of contention, raising broader questions about how referees manage the balance between letting the players decide the game and enforcing the rules.