Livescore
San Diego State overcame a 14-point second-half deficit and stunned FAU 72-71 on Saturday in the first of two national semifinals games as the No. 5 seed Aztecs took down the No. 9 seed Owls with the first buzzer-beater of this year’s March Madness.
Aztecs guard Lamont Butler rose up and released a jumper with 0.6 seconds remaining to give SDSU a 72-71 advantage, marking its first lead in the game since the first half to end the Owls’ incredible run in the NCAA Tournament,
San Diego State’s 14-point second-half deficit it erased marks the third-largest comeback in Final Four history. Butler finished with nine points on six shots to propel his team to to the title game after being held scoreless for the entire second half prior to his clincher.
“The plan was just to get downhill,” Butler said postgame on CBS of his game-winner. “They played off me a little bit. I looked up and saw there was two seconds left, so I got to a shot I’m comfortable with – and I hit it. I’m just so happy.”
The frantic final sequence came after San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher opted not to call timeout late in the game. After his Aztecs held FAU on a defensive sequence with just under 10 seconds remaining, Butler brought the ball down the floor, got jammed up driving to the rim but was able to pull up on a dime to deliver the win.
“I ran out of plays, so I decided not to take a timeout,” Dutcher said on CBS. “I said ‘if we get the rebound, let’s get downhill.’ Lamont got downhill and made the play. I’m proud of him.”
The win by the Aztecs puts them in the national title game for the first time in school history. San Diego State will face the winner of Miami vs. UConn in Saturday’s other Final Four game on Monday night for the national title.
This story will be updated with takeaways shortly
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