[Adam]

Question for you coach.

Had your friend earned a Technical earlier? Sorry, allow me to rephrase; had a technical foul been called on your friend earlier in the game?

Now. If the ref determined that the player's intent had more malice than strategy, a T could be warranted. This depends on several factors we don't have access to.

Secondly, we have no idea what your friend had said prior to this incident. Perhaps he'd been given another T, or perhaps the ref called a flagrant T for his comments on this incident. The words used in his request can have an affect on this.

Then again, some refs will call ABS Ts. Accumulation of BS. Sometimes, oddly enough, the comments that actually draw the T seem "mild" compared with the crap from the rest of the game.

In the end, yes, the ref can eject if he so chooses.

If this was a case of an unwarranted ejection, your only recourse is after the game. Complain to the ones who hire the refs.