Buzzer Malfunction Causes Delay in March Madness Game

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A buzzer malfunction caused a lengthy delay in the first half of the NCAA Tournament's South Region final between Iowa and Illinois on Saturday night. The buzzer sounded continuously for about 7 minutes, forcing players to wait on the court before both teams started warming up as the noise persisted. The main scoreboard and video screen then went dark, though the game ultimately resumed with smaller scoreboards working.

Why it matters

Buzzer and scoreboard malfunctions are highly disruptive events that can significantly impact the flow and momentum of a high-stakes March Madness game. Ensuring reliable game operations is critical for the NCAA Tournament, one of the most widely watched sporting events in the U.S.

The details

When the buzzer sounded out of a media timeout with 7:43 left in the first half, it kept blaring uninterrupted for about seven minutes. Players stood on the court ready to play for a couple of minutes before both teams started to warm up as the buzzer continued to sound. It was finally silenced, to cheers from the crowd, but then the main scoreboard and video screen that hangs over the middle of the court went dark.

• The buzzer malfunction occurred with 7:43 left in the first half.
• The buzzer blared continuously for about 7 minutes.

What’s next

The game ultimately resumed with the big scoreboard still off, but two smaller scoreboards at each end of the arena were working.