Belfast Star defeated UCD Marian 92-87 at Newforge on Saturday evening to draw level with their visitors on 27 points. This is despite a controversial call from the scorers with just over 6 seconds remaining.
With the score at 90-83, there was confusion from all sides of the arena when an extra three points were added to the ‘Guests’ side of the scoreboard. This call was challenged by Star head coach Sean Ingle who was deep in conversation with the scoring judges along with captain Conor Quinn long after the final buzzer.
However, this did not seem to give him any clarity on the matter:
“I was informed that there was a three pointer from their number 12 (Tanner Graham) that was either missed or not added to the scoreboard properly. Although I’m still not sure when it is supposed to have happened. We are still as confused as everyone else in the building.”
Quinn seemed to be just as bemused:
“If their bench thought that there were three points missed in such a tight game, they surely would have been all over it but they weren’t.
In the end, it didn’t change the result but it very easily could have and, in such a tight league, points difference matters so it could still be costly."
At the time of writing, it appears that Star will be challenging the call but Quinn was also full of praise for his team who came out on top in an enthralling topsy-turvy encounter.
“The boys really dug deep to get the win tonight. We know how tough a team UCD are and that every win is crucial at this stage of the season.”
Quinn highlighted the play of the likes of the two Maxes - Richardson and Cooper. The former was metronomic from the free-throw line with 13 points from in front while the latter contributed 20 points as well as some big defensive plays.
Cooper helped the hosts out to an early lead while captain Quinn drained the first three of the night as the visitors were looking bewildered. However, they steadied the ship somewhat, helped in particular by a pair of threes from their top scorer Jonathan Jean.
Star still lead 25-14 at the first intermission but the second ten saw the visitors get a foothold in proceedings led again by Jean while Oscar Mendez Blanco started to find his range. Lovre Tvrdic was also contributing while Darweshi Hunter led the rebuttal for Belfast but another from downtown by Jean saw UCD take the lead for the first time late in the second quarter. The deficit was six at the half at 42-48 in favour of Ioannis Liapakis' men.
After the first half being a tale of two quarters, the third was a back and forth affair that had fans on the edge of their seats. Star went on a scoring run of nine unanswered points thanks to Cooper, Richardson and Dre Jackson whose three tied it before a bucket edged his side in front. It would stay that way heading into the last ten thanks to a big block from Richardson as Jean tried to tie things up at the buzzer after Liam Pettigrew made it a two point lead at 67-65.
Threes from Jean and Tvrdic edged Marian ahead again before an electric pair from outside the circle from Paddy McGaharan turned the game on its head as the two teams traded blows as the clock ticked down. An Aidan Quinn jump shot opened the lead to five which is the biggest it had been for Star since early in the second and, with just under five to go, it looked as though the hosts would go on to see out the win.
They did eventually but not without some difficulty as Jean kept the scoreboard ticking over at 83-81 shortly before the final seconds controversy. Ultimately, despite getting a helping hand, UCD’s desperate late attempts came to nought but it feels as though we haven’t heard the last of this game.
Star are on the road next Saturday in Rathfarnham as they take on fifth placed Éanna. Belfast sit two places below them and level on points with UCD and two others in an extraordinarily-tight Men’s Super League table.