All the pieces were in place for a marquee victory for the Missouri State basketball team.
Matching Valparaiso punch for punch for 39 minutes and 45.5 seconds at JQH Arena, the Bears played the Crusaders to an 81-all tie.
Then the whistle sounded and a foul was called on Obediah Church, on an Alec Peters’ 3-point attempt.
Peters made all three free throws and Valparaiso escaped with an 84-81 victory, robbing the Bears of a chance for their best victory of the season.
“It wasn’t a foul,” said junior guard Ronnie Rousseau III, who had a close-up view of the play.