If you play sports long enough, youll commit a mental error to remember.

Unfortunately for Kent States Julius Rollins, it happened on national TV Saturday, with his team this close to clinching an NCAA tournament bid. (Watch the video below.)

Kent State got a tip-in by CliRon Hornbeak to move ahead 61-60 over Akron in the Mid-American Conference championship with six seconds to go.

But Rollins intentionally fouled Akrons Greg Tribble in the backcourt to send him to the free throw line with 4.8 left prompting red-faced shock from Kent State coach Rob Senderoff.

Tribble sank both free throws, and Akron secured the 62-61 victory and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

What a great game, but what a horrible, tough way to lose, Senderoff told The Associated Press afterward. As I told the team, I should have called a timeout. I dont blame Julius. Theres 100 plays in the game and that was just one of them.

The coach tried to keep the deflating moment in perspective. The sun will come up tomorrow, he said. Itll be a little cloudy for me and my guys.

CBS basketball analyst Seth Davis expressed sympathy for Rollins in a post on X, formerly Twitter, after the game.

Sports are cruel sometimes, he wrote.

If its any consolation to Kent State, Akron is seeded 14th in its region, and isnt likely to beat No. 3-seeded Creighton in their first-round game of March Madness.