Rick Pitino fumes over refs’ decision to ice Zuby Ejiofor late in St. John’s loss

Rick Pitino was furious with the officials’ decision to ice Zuby Ejiofor at the free throw line by going to replay after he was beaten by Jayden Nunn in the final seconds of the No. 22 St. John’s double overtime, 99-98 loss to No. 13 Baylor.

Baylor coach Scott Drew called for a review when he believed Ejiofor may have elbowed one of his players when they tackled him.

Ejiofor missed two free throws with 4.1 seconds left and Jeremy Roach won the game at the buzzer with a 3-pointer.

“Icing my free throw shooter that ended up being totally unethical. You can’t do something like that,” Pitino said. “(That referee) said the coach said we elbowed (his player), which we didn’t. Plain as day. It’s an unethical move. I don’t like it, but that’s not why we lost.”

Pitino was not thrilled with the umpire.

He felt Baylor got away with a lot of fouls on many of their 16 offensive rebounds that led to 22 second chance.

There was also a question about the clock on Roach’s 3-pointer. It didn’t seem to start on time after Ejiofor missed his second free throw.

“I don’t know what to say, the refs didn’t do a very good job tonight,” Pitino said.

Pitino said sophomore wing Brady Dunlap will not be available Friday night because of a quad injury. Kadary Richmond and Ejiofor were limited by cramps in the two overtime periods.

Richmond sat for most of the second overtime.

St. John’s hit a season-high 14 3-pointers. Aaron Scott made 5 of 6. … The Johnnies have allowed 32 offensive rebounds and 38 second-chance points in the last two games. … Their 18 turnovers were a season high.