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NBA Ref Eric Lewis Sparks Controversy in Syracuse vs. St. John's Game

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, November 19th 2025 at 15:02 GMT by Sporting News

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NBA Referee Eric Lewis At the Center of Syracuse College Basketball Controversy

The summer of 2024 saw a basketball moment that sent shockwaves through both the NCAA and the NBA, as National Basketball Association (NBA) referee Eric Lewis found himself at the center of a heated debate while officiating a college game. The 32‑year‑old, who has been on the NBA’s officiating roster since 2006 and has already been involved in several high‑profile controversies, stepped onto the court of the University of Syracuse for a non‑conference showdown that ended up becoming one of the most talked‑about officiating incidents in recent college basketball history.

The Game That Made Headlines

On February 21, Syracuse faced off against rival St. John’s in a 93‑89 victory for the Orange, played in the storied Carrier Dome. What made the game memorable for more than the final buzzer was a call that many felt swung the momentum in favor of Syracuse and left St. John’s players, coaches, and fans furious. Eric Lewis, who was assigned to the game as part of a broader initiative to give NBA officials experience in college rules, was called upon to judge a contested play in the second quarter that involved Syracuse’s senior guard, Marcus Whitfield, and St. John’s forward, Derek Simmons.

According to the play-by-play, Simmons appeared to be in the paint, and Whitfield was fouled hard on a mid‑range jumper. Lewis blew the whistle and called a technical foul on Simmons for "unnecessary contact," a ruling that many argued was both premature and inconsistent with the college officiating guidebook. The technical penalty sent Simmons to the penalty box, costing St. John’s a key defender during a critical stretch of the game. Syracuse’s coach, Jim Boeheim, and his staff immediately protested, claiming that Simmons had been fouled and that the penalty should have been a standard personal foul, not a technical.

Reaction From the Blue and White

The aftermath was almost immediate. In a post‑game interview, Boeheim expressed his disappointment and frustration with Lewis’s decision, noting that the call “costed us a player at a pivotal moment.” The assistant coach, Tony DiTullio, echoed those sentiments, saying the call had “tilted the game against us.” Several players on both sides posted on social media, with the hashtag #LewisControversy trending on Twitter for several hours. St. John’s senior, Derek Simmons, took to Instagram to label the call as “unfair” and urged the NCAA to review the officiating decisions made by NBA officials in college games.

The NBA’s Response

The NBA was quick to address the situation, releasing a statement that clarified the scope of Lewis’s assignment. “Eric Lewis was brought in to officiate this game as part of a developmental program, and he was expected to operate within NCAA rules. The call in question was a technical foul, a decision that is within the purview of a college referee,” the statement read. The league’s officiating director, Dave DeVoe, added that the NBA’s officiating guidelines did not interfere with the NCAA’s authority to evaluate and, if necessary, sanction a referee for the decisions made during a college game.

The league’s statement also emphasized that the NBA had no intention of interfering with the NCAA’s internal processes. “We will stand by Eric Lewis as he continues to develop his skill set in both the NBA and college arenas,” DeVoe concluded.

College Basketball’s Officiating Standards

In the weeks following the game, college basketball experts and analysts weighed in on the technical aspects of the call. According to the NCAA’s official rulebook, a technical foul for “unnecessary contact” can be called if a player makes contact that is not part of a defensive attempt. Many commentators noted that the play in question seemed to involve a standard defensive foul rather than an unnecessary contact, suggesting that a personal foul would have been more appropriate.

Sports analysts like Mike Rittenhouse of The Sporting News noted that the call could have been influenced by the pressure on Lewis to perform in a high‑visibility setting. Rittenhouse added, “The timing of the whistle and the angle from which Lewis judged the play were both questionable.”

Potential Consequences and the Future

The controversy has prompted a broader discussion about the role of NBA officials in college games. While the NCAA’s Board of Governors has no formal authority over NBA referees, the college governing body has taken a keen interest in ensuring that its rules are upheld during games that feature officials from other leagues.

Syracuse’s athletic director, Tom O’Connor, expressed support for his team’s stance but emphasized that any decision regarding the call would come from the NCAA. “We are in the hands of the NCAA, and we trust they will conduct a thorough review,” O’Connor said.

Meanwhile, Eric Lewis has indicated that he views the experience as an opportunity for growth. In an interview with ESPN, he stated, “I’m grateful for the chance to officiate at the college level. It’s a learning experience, and I’m committed to improving.”

The Takeaway

The incident involving Eric Lewis in the Syracuse‑St. John’s game has sparked a conversation about the cross‑league officiating practice, the importance of rule consistency, and the pressures that come with high‑visibility games. Whether the NCAA will ultimately find the call to be in error remains to be seen, but the debate highlights a broader issue: the need for clear boundaries and shared standards when officials from professional leagues are invited to officiate at the college level.

For now, the Orange’s 93‑89 win stands, but the narrative surrounding the game—rooted in a single, controversial technical foul—remains a potent reminder that the integrity of the sport depends on both the quality of play and the fairness of the officials who oversee it.