Basketball: Andrew Gaze joins in criticism of controversial call against Breakers

Australian basketball great Andrew Gaze. Photo/Getty.

Australian basketball great Andrew Gaze has joined a chorus of criticism of the controversial final-minute unsportsmanlike foul call which denied the Breakers an ANBL victory against Melbourne United last night.

The Breakers led United by one point with nine seconds remaining and had earned a foul, just a split second before Melbourne captain Chris Goulding tumbled to the floor.

The incident meant Breakers shooting guard, Corey Webster, was penalised for a dead-ball foul, meaning both teams had two shots from free-throw line before Melbourne automatically retained possession.

New Zealand's Alex Pledger only managed to sink one of his, while Goulding sunk both his to level the scores before the United's final drive resulted in another controversial foul call, allowing Melbourne to seal the match and continue their nine-match unbeaten streak to start the season.

The NBL confirmed today the decision would form part of their weekly review process.

"It was a shocking, shocking way for a game to end in basketball," Gaze told SEN Radio on Monday morning.

"What a shemozzle, that is just umpires not understanding the spirit of the game, the way it should be played and that is just an unfortunate mistake, they've made a bad mistake."

Gaze was not alone in his views, with numerous other Australian basketball icons tweeting in agreeance.

"@NBL that is horrible. You need to do something about that! #TERRIBLE," tweeted Australia's Utah Jazz shooting guard, Joe Ingles.

"You are a joke mate, are you kidding me? @NBL better do something about that ref," posted Adelaide 36ers captain Adam Gibson.

"Those calls aren't education, their (sic) plain wrong. The league needs to be great now, not later," Melbourne Tigers great Chris Anstey tweeted.

"I am absolutely speechless. I feel sick. Great game by both teams. But that's not how basketball is meant to work," posted Cairns Taipans shooting guard Cameron Gliddon.

After the match, United coach Dean Demopoulos agreed his team had been fortunate in victory.

"I just think collectively as a group we had horse shoes up our arses, which means you're lucky, we were lucky. As much as I love coming out on top I don't like doing it like that," he said.

Breakers coach Dean Vickerman also questioned why the decision was not reviewed.

- AAP