3 refs withdraw after disputed Big East ending

NEW YORK - The three officials cited for two errors in the final seconds of the St. John's-Rutgers game have withdrawn from the rest of the Big East tournament.

Veteran refs Jim Burr, Tim Higgins and Earl Walton missed two calls — a travel and stepping out of bounds — in the final 1.7 seconds of St. John's 65-63 second-round victory Wednesday.

The Big East acknowledged after the game the officials blew the calls. On Thursday, Commissioner John Marinatto said the three officials have "voluntarily withdrawn" in "the best interests of those involved."

Marinatto called the league's officials a "very dedicated and loyal group of professionals." Last year, Burr worked the Big East semifinals and Higgins the championship game.

Burr has worked 16 Final Fours, the first in 1985, the last in 2006, and has done seven national championships games. Higgins has worked 10 Final Fours, the first in 1988, the last in 2004, and has done four national championship games.

Walton has never worked a Final Four.

John Adams, the NCAA's national coordinator of men's basketball officiating, told ESPN's Andy Katz of ESPN.com he was unhappy with the referees' performance.

"Not officiating to the end of a game is unacceptable," Adams said.