2025 Final Four: Rueben Chinyelu elbows Denver Jones in the face, hit with Flagrant 1
A lot of physicality is playing out on the court in San Antonio between Auburn and Florida. With a spot in the national championship on the line, it’s not too surprising. But one play crossed the line in the officials’ mind as a Flagrant 1 foul was called on Rueben Chinyelu.
Fighting through a Denver Jones screen, Chinyelu was attempting to go over the top. His elbow wound up making contact with Jones’ head and sent him to the ground. As the replay was shown, you could see Chinyelu follow through with his elbow.
Officials went to the monitor and decided to upgrade the foul. CBS rules official Gene Steratore agreed with the decision, explaining his point of view during the broadcast.
“I think when you see Chinyelu get that elbow up that high on Jones, and then you make that contact like that to the head and neck area and finish through,” Steretore said. “To me, that one falls into that elevation where you go to the Flagrant 1 foul. Just because of the contact and then he’s following through. That’s not incidental to me, that’s excessive.”
Being a tied game in the second half, this is a big call from the officials. Auburn will now get two free throws and possession of the ball. A five-point swing is possible depending on how Jones fares from the line and the following trip down the court.
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As for Chinyelu, he will now have to be a little more careful. There is another foul to his name and one of them is a flagrant. Getting into any more trouble could result in him getting ejected from the game. You have to imagine Todd Golden would prefer not to have one of his defensive stars watching from the locker room.
Florida, Auburn hoping to advance to national championship game
Sometimes, these types of plays happen when in the heat of battle. Both teams are familiar with one another and maybe have a little extra edge to earn a win Saturday night. As if a national championship spot is not enough.
Florida would be back in the title game for the first time since 2007, the back end of back-to-back championships. Auburn is hoping to make program history, previously making a Final Four but not making it to Monday night. Beating the Gators would unlock something they have never done on the Plains.