Reason unclear, but most were shown other game.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Most viewers tuning in to watch Fresno State in the Women's NCAA Tournament on Saturday got another basketball game instead.
Rather than seeing the Bulldogs play Baylor in their first NCAA Tournament game in the 43-year history of the program, fans got the Auburn-George Washington women's game at Stanford.
An ESPN official said the game, in which Fresno State lost 88-67, should have been on ESPN2, as originally scheduled.
"We absolutely apologize and understand the frustration of the fans," said Josh Krulewitz, vice president of public relations for ESPN. "There are no excuses for it. It came down to a miscommunication.
"The early rounds of the tournament are regionalized with multiple games in each window. Fresno was supposed to be protected in its market. We will do everything in the future to prevent something like this happening again."
Krulewitz would not elaborate when asked about the miscommunication.
Some viewers were able to get the game. With ESPN providing a feed of the Fresno State-Baylor game, the onus actually falls upon each cable or satellite provider to switch to the correct feed and show the right game.
Rather than broadcast the Fresno State-Baylor game, Comcast cable and the Dish Network showed the Auburn-George Washington game.
DirecTV also began showing the Auburn-George Washington game but switched to the Fresno State-Baylor game shortly after.
Representatives from the three cable providers could not be reached for comment Saturday.
"It adds insult to injury," Fresno State athletic director Thomas Boeh said.
"I've been getting all kinds of phone calls about it."
Bulldogs coach Adrian Wiggins, earlier in the week, talked about the benefits of national exposure on ESPN2 and how it could help the future of the program.
"It can definitely be a boost for us in recruiting, getting our name out nationally," he said.