A college basketball player helped clean up a mess created by his coaching staff after a disappointing road loss

• Houston lost to Alabama in a tightly contested game over the weekend.
• Several Houston coaches and players made a mess courtside in protest of the officiating.

The Houston Cougars lost in heartbreaking fashion to the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday.

Alabama took an 83-82 lead with 30 seconds remaining leaving Houston time for one final possession. After a missed three, Houston had two chances under the glass to put the ball back in, but both were denied, the first by the rim, the second by Alabama's JD Davison, who flew in to swat the ball away at the buzzer.

—The Comeback (@thecomeback) December 12, 2021

Davison's block was close to goaltending, and both the Houston bench and the players on the court hounded the officials to review the play. Instead, the referees walked off the court. Game over. Alabama holds on at home.

Still on the court, Houston was clearly frustrated with the stonewalled reaction they got when pleading their case to the officials.

Head coach Kelvin Sampson left Alabama head coach Nate Oats hanging for a post-game handshake.

—Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) December 12, 2021

Walking off the court, the frustration boiled over. Houston assistant coach Kellen Sampson — son of head coach Kelvin — kicked over a chair as he walked to the tunnel. Following him, a few Houston players added to the mess.

—Adam Weil (@AdamWeil22) December 12, 2021

It was a disappointing scene, but saved in part by Houston sophomore Jamal Shead, who rather than add to the mess or simply walk past it, instead chose to stop and help clean up a bit of the chaos.

Fans watching the scene unfold on Twitter praised Shead for his class and poise even in the face of a clearly disappointing loss.

—Austin Rader (@AustinRader24) December 12, 2021

—Kristen McDonnell (@CoachKristenMcD) December 13, 2021

—Jason Anderson (@pitchn09) December 12, 2021

—Nick Grant (@CoachNick_G) December 12, 2021

—Clint Lamb (@ClintRLamb) December 12, 2021

—Drew Maddux (@DrewMaddux) December 12, 2021

On Sunday, coaches at Houston apologized, and those apologies appeared to be accepted by Alabama.

The game might not have gone Houston's way, but after Shead's show of sportsmanship, it sounds like he'll have a few more fans as the season moves forward.