Clemson’s Lakhin Disqualified in Controversial Technical Foul During NCAA Loss

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — In a tense NCAA Tournament matchup, No. 5 seed Clemson fell to No. 12 McNeese State, 69-67, on Thursday, with a controversial call involving standout player Viktor Lakhin drawing significant attention. The incident occurred late in the game as Clemson attempted to rally after trailing by as many as 24 points.

With just over six minutes remaining, Clemson cut McNeese’s lead to 13 points. During a fast break, McNeese guard Sincere Parker attempted a dunk but missed. Following the attempt, Lakhin was assessed a shooting foul for contact, marking his fourth foul of the night. After a brief exchange of words under the basket between Lakhin and Parker, a technical foul was called against Lakhin, resulting in his disqualification from the game due to a fifth foul.

Visible disbelief crossed Lakhin’s face as he realized the consequences while the truTV broadcast team expressed their bewilderment. Analyst Steve Lappas reacted, saying, “Wow, I don’t know. I mean, c’mon.” Play-by-play announcer Andrew Catalon remarked, “That’s a tough call.”

Lakhin, a first-year transfer from Cincinnati, finished the game with six points and 10 rebounds in 25 minutes of play. His absence during the closing moments proved costly for the Tigers, who had made a late push to narrow the gap but ultimately fell short. “The guy drove, I tried to block his shot, I fouled him and then got a technical for talking, from the referee’s point of view,” Lakhin explained after the game, declining to comment on whether he felt the technical was deserved.

Clemson head coach Brad Brownell, observed looking perplexed by the technical foul, expressed disappointment over the incident. “I just talked to my guys and I made a big deal to our team about not getting involved in any woofing today,” Brownell noted. “That was very disappointing.” He acknowledged both players shared responsibility in the conflict.

Parker, the McNeese player involved, described the moment as part of the competitive nature of the game. “After my near-poster, I looked at Lakhin, and I guess that was just my competitive spirit coming out,” Parker said. He indicated that the exchange was light trash talk and not meant to provoke a technical foul.

The decision to eject Lakhin sparked outrage on social media, with several basketball analysts and fans decrying the call. One college basketball journalist tweeted, “Just an atrocious technical foul called on Victor Lakhin. Gave him his fifth. Gimme a break.” Others joined in, with sentiments expressing dissatisfaction with officiating standards during the game.

After the game, McNeese State celebrated its victory and advancement in the NCAA Tournament. The team, coached by Will Wade, will face No. 4 Purdue in the second round on Saturday. Clemson concluded its season with a record of 27-7, facing yet another disappointment in NCAA Tournament play.