Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl was ejected from the West High School gym during the Rebels' game Thursday night after criticizing the officiating of a Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association official.

Near the end of the fourth quarter of West's 72-63 overtime victory over Campbell County, official Shane Mynatt stopped play and asked that the first-year Vols coach leave.

"I said it loud enough for him to hear that maybe he should change ends with the other official,'' Pearl said. "And he looked at me, and he put the whistle in his mouth like I was coaching and he was going to give me a technical.

"I said, 'What, are you going to throw me out?' And he ran over to security. Before anything could happen, I just left the gym and went to the concession stand.''

Pearl's son, Steven, scored 28 points to lead the Rebels to their 12th victory this season.

West coach Gary Petko said that as per policy, school resource officers were sent to escort Pearl from the bleachers, but that Pearl left on his own before he could be escorted out. Petko said he thought Pearl watched the remainder of the game from the gym's lobby.

Calls to UT athletic director Mike Hamilton were not returned Friday night. Attempts to reach Mynatt were unsuccessful.

Petko was not aware of the specific comments Pearl made to Mynatt.

"The extent of what he said, I can't tell you," Petko said. "From my understanding, there was no vulgarity said."

According to former UT and New York Jets' quarterback Pat Ryan, who was sitting beside Pearl during the game, the official singled out the coach.

"His son was getting beat to death and they weren't calling anything,'' Ryan said. "Bruce told him he blew three calls in a row, I told him he blew three calls in a row and the guy behind me told him he blew three calls in a row.

"Because he is Bruce Pearl, this guy (Mynatt) eyeballed him and targeted him. He (Pearl) didn't curse him. The guy had missed a bunch of calls, and we were just giving him a little business, and the guy couldn't handle it very well.''

According to Ryan, Mynatt had issued Steven Pearl a technical foul earlier this season at a Christmas tournament game between West and Maryville.

"I had no idea why he teed him up,'' Ryan said. "I didn't see anything.''

Pearl said he's disappointed by the incident.

"I take my responsibility as being a role model seriously,'' Pearl said. "I want our fans to behave, and I want them to be enthusiastic. I really didn't do anything that rose to any level. I understand I can be a target.

"What I realize now is I have to be perfect -- I can't say anything to any official,'' Pearl said. "Is it fair? Maybe not. But that's just the reality of it.''

TSSAA officials are required to file a written report when players or coaches are ejected, however such a report is not mandatory when a spectator is removed from the gym.

As of Friday evening, TSSAA had not received a report from Mynatt.

TSSAA spokesman Matthew Gillespie said the supervisor of officials for the Knox South Officials Association contacted the high school association's office to make them aware that Pearl was ejected from the game.

"He (Pearl) was there when the game started, wasn't there when it ended and didn't leave by choice," Gillespie said after talking to Gene Menees, who handles all disciplinary action for TSSAA.

Ryan said Pearl watched the remainder of the game from the doorway to the gym, and he saw Pearl talking to his son, Steven, after the game.

"Coach Pearl wasn't over the top; nothing like this has ever happened with him before," Petko said. "He's been very supportive. He just wants to be a parent in the stands watching his son play high school basketball."