Fifty-two total free throws and 27 fouls called in the second half.

Monday night's national championship game was almost unwatchable for the average viewer with whistles ruining the flow of the game and determining several late-game possessions.

The officiating, in a sense, left a lot to be desired.

Gonzaga coach Mark Few didn't use it as an excuse, however, even after one call went against his team in the final two minutes when Kennedy Meeks' hand touched the end line but the Tar Heels earned a tie up on the possession arrow.

ESPN senior writer Don Van Natta Jr. was one of several national media members to tweet negatively toward the officiating during the contest.

This is the best worst game I've ever seen. — Don Van Natta Jr. (@DVNJr) April 4, 2017

POSSESSION ARROW: REFEREES' WHISTLES — Don Van Natta Jr. (@DVNJr) April 4, 2017

"First of all, I mean, those were three of the best officials in the entire country -- NBA, college or anything," Few said. "I thought they did a great job. I mean, these are two heavyweight teams going at it, inside, playing really, really physical basketball. You still have to officiate the game of basketball and that's what they did. I had no issue whatsoever. I thought they did a fabulous job. And I'm on the losing end. And it's just not an easy game to ref.

"And we're throwing the ball inside. They're throwing the ball inside. Our guards go downhill. Their guards go downhill. So, I thought they were great. As far as the second part, yeah, we were negotiating our way through just massive foul issues, ones that we haven't had all year. It was not looking good with about 10 to go there. I thought we navigated ourselves really, really well to get that thing down, take a lead with a minute or so to go. And just didn't -- we didn't finish. We've been great on defense all year. And just didn't finish off that possession. We needed to come up with that rebound."

One reporter asked Few after the game if the Zags had thought about reviewing the controversial play.

"No. There wasn't. I wish ... and that's probably on me," Few said. "I had no idea. I just, from my angle it didn't look like it was a situation where there was an out-of-bounds situation or I else I would have called for a review. So nobody made me aware of it or I certainly would have within the last minute there or two minutes. So that's tough.

"It's tough to hear. But, you know, that's just the way it goes."