WATCH: Controversial technical ruled against San Diego State in Sweet 16 game vs. Alabama

Officials called a controversial technical foul on San Diego State midway through the second half of a Sweet 16 game against Alabama on a play where the San Diego State player had his face smashed into the floor.

Alabama big man Charles Bediako was going for a loose basketball when Aztecs guard Matt Bradley lunged in low for the ball.

Bradley appeared to undercut Bediako, and as momentum carried both men to the floor, Bediako’s body caused Bradley’s face to get a whole lot of wood. But officials ruled a technical foul on Bradley.

Check it out below.

Foul on San Diego State? 🧐 pic.twitter.com/4s3EbgRiL3

— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 25, 2023

On the broadcast team, rules expert Gene Steratore commented on the play.

“It’s an aggressive play, but when you’re diving for a loose ball and you’re impeding another player from making a play on that, you have to call a foul on that,” said Steratore. “The foul is on No. 20 black. This is an intense game and I get a coach defending his player at that point, but you have to let him vent.

“And then he has to stop and if he doesn’t, you have to assess him with a ‘T’ on the play.”

San Diego State feeling in rhythm

While the second half has had a little more energy and back-and-forth to it, you’d have to say the first half went the way of the Aztecs.

The first half couldn’t have gone a whole lot better for the Aztecs, who kept it close throughout and really hounded the Crimson Tide. The rebounding both ways was physical and hard-fought, and San Diego State put its stamp down on the defensive end of the floor.

“I’m pleased with the score. The pace is to our favor,” San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher told the TBS broadcast crew at halftime. “We’re holding them down, we’re not letting them get fast breaks, we’re limiting second-chance opportunities and our defense has been good.”

San Diego State’s Darrion Trammell led all scorers at the half with nine points. The Aztecs finished the first half with a 25-22 edge in rebounding.

But neither team was able to pull away thanks to poor shooting numbers impacted by terrific defense on both sides.

“I just wish we handled pressure better,” Dutcher said. “But you have to understand, they’re ranked higher than us defensively. Everybody talks about their offense, they have a good defense.”