I was watching the URI-Xavier game this afternoon, and have a question about the use of replay by the officials. In the second half, a URI player fouled a Xavier player, and the result was pretty brutal. The referee consulted the monitor, and then assessed the URI player a flagrant personal foul. Is it permissible to use the video monitor in that situation to determine the nature of a foul?

Not for that reason.
 

Are you sure it was not looked at for timing or scoring purposes? Because if the commentators said that was the reason, I probably would take that with a grain of salt. But they cannot look at the monitor unless they are trying to figure out who came off the bench for a fight. Whether a shot was a 2 or a 3. And whether the time got screwed up and the officials need a reference to correct it properly. If I left anything out forgive me, but that is about it.

Peace

The officials may use the monitor to determine "if a fight occurred and the individuals who participated
or left the bench area;" (2-5.1a)

Perhaps the official was using the tape to determine whether the URI player had actually engaged in fighting activity?
Or, they could have consulted the tape for timing or scoring (to see if the shot went in) reasons, and then announced the foul.

There seemed to be some question as to whether he threw a punch, so this reasoning seems to fit the bill.

If I understand you then this cannot be done. If you're looking at the monitor to resolve a timing issue you can only rule on that.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. The foul could have been predetermined by the refs before they consulted the replay for timing provisions. They just had not announced the call yet. Is that kosher?
Note: I see this has been clarified, in that the officials were actually trying to determine whether the URI player had thrown a punch.