UCLA freshman Joshua Smith has apologized for critical comments about the officiating in UCLA's 63-52 loss to USC Sunday night and making an obscene gesture to a Trojan fan after the game.

“I have to apologize,” said Smith, who fouled out, referring to the officials. “With me, with that. It was just one of those heat of the moments where after the game you just say what’s on your mind. And a game like that where it was kind of funny I felt the calls were terrible but we watched film and a couple of them that I thought were terrible I actually did foul. And with that I just wanted to apologize for what I said. For basically with me I’m a pretty emotional guy and after a game like that I really didn’t understand the magnitude of the rivalry until after we lost and I really have to do better than that.”

Ben Howland said that four of five fouls called on Smith were correct.

"The refs, honestly, were terrible," said Smith. "They were giving me B.S. answers (when he asked about foul calls). They were telling me this, this, this.

"Hopefully, they can watch tape and correct themselves."

Smith also acknowledged giving the finger to a fan after the game.

“Yeah, that did happen,” Smith said. “I lost my cool, somebody actually said something personal to me, talking to me about my family. I just gave them a little one. I mean my parents taught me well but he said something personal where I just let him know how I felt. I do regret it. I’m a better person than that. My family has raised me to tune stuff out like that be he said something pretty personal. With me after the game with emotions all over the place it just kind of happened.”