Player on Bench swatting live ball

[mcrowder]

UT vs OkSt on Saturday, a UT player was passing the ball along the sideline to a teammate. Two OkSt players leaned forward from their seats and partially stood, reaching out into the field of play. One of the players hit the ball in flight.

The trailing official correctly ruled it was Texas's ball. But isn't this an automatic technical foul? Texas's coach seemed to be arguing with the official after the call, but nothing ever came of it. What is the right call?