MAAC suspends 3 refs for clock error

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EDISON, N.J. -- The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference has suspended the three officials who worked Sunday's Rider-Niagara game where a late clock error changed the outcome.

The MAAC said in a statement Monday that the officials -- listed on the box score as Rusty Cooper, Tony Crisp and Kenneth Clark -- will miss one game for failure to note the game clock starting early on the key inbounds play in the final seconds.

Ali Langford's dunk with 3.7 seconds left gave Niagara an 84-82 lead. Following a Rider timeout, the game clock started before the Broncs inbounded the ball but it wasn't noticed. Jonathon Thompson hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have given Rider the win, but after a TV review, officials ruled time had expired before Thompson released the shot.

The MAAC also publicly reprimanded Niagara's game clock operator and replay system operator for failure to manage the clock and replay system in the expected manner. A school spokesman did not release the names of the two on Monday.

The win came six days after Brandon Penn's 3-pointer with 1 second left gave Rider a 74-73 win over Niagara.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

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