Tennessee clock strikes in Rutgers’ 59-58 loss

This time, Rutgers’ issue was not with Don Imus.

Suffering a controversial loss after the game clock appeared to pause on two-tenths of a second, No. 5-ranked Rutgers fell to No. 1 Tennessee, 59-58, Monday night at Knoxville, Tenn., in a rematch of the 2007 NCAA women’s basketball title game that had fueled Imus’ controversial remarks about the Scarlet Knights players.

With Rutgers leading, 58-57, in the closing seconds, the Lady Vols got an offensive rebound from Nicky Anosike, who was fouled by Rutgers’ Kia Vaughn from behind.

Unclear whether the foul had come before time expired, the Rutgers bench began to celebrate, but officials reviewed the play and determined the foul had been committed 0.2 of a second before the buzzer. TV replays showed the clock lingered on that time.

Anosike made the two free throws for Tennessee (22-1).

“Unfortunately that is human error,” Rutgers Coach C. Vivian Stringer said. “I just happen to be on the end of human error too many times with too many erasers at the end of my name, and I’m so sorry because these young women deserve better.”

Rutgers (19-4) also lost to Stanford this season on two free throws by Candice Wiggins with 0.1 of a second left.