Did San Diego State win today? Lamont Butler hits the buzz against Florida Atlantic in the Final Four game sending the team to the title game

Houston – Lamont Butler made a jumper at the buzzer, sending San Diego State to its first national championship game with a 72-71 win over fellow quarterback Florida Atlantic in the Final Four on Saturday night.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Butler. “That’s what I came here to do. I’m happy the shot went in. I’m happy for my team now.”

And the Aztecs (32-6) seemed to be in trouble as the free-flowing Owls (35-4) separated them while leading by 14 points.

San Diego State got back at it, as they always do, on defense.

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The Aztecs closed out FAU and pulled within one when Jaedon LeDee hit a short birdie with 36 seconds left in the game. After FAU’s Jonelle Davis missed a contested layup, the Aztecs did not call a timeout and got the ball to Butler.

The clock is ticking, Butler dribbled to the baseline, found that cut and ran back. He came back to create small room and hit the Blues that propelled the Aztecs to a home run — and to Monday’s championship game against either UConn or Miami.

“The plan was just to get downhill,” Butler said. “They cut me a little bit. I looked up, there were two seconds left, so I got a shot I was comfortable with. And I hit it.”

San Diego State’s defense played a major role in getting them to the final game. It restricted four opponents in a row to open the NCAA Tournament.

The Aztecs didn’t have an answer for the reckless Owls in the first half, allowing them to hit 5-of-11 from 3-point range to build a 40-33 halftime lead.

FAU extended the lead to 14 midway through the second period.

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Then the Aztecs became bold.

Competing with nearly every shot and pass while pulling off a series of offensive rebounds, San Diego rushed to tie the game at 65. Matt Bradley led the offense in the second half and finished with 21 points after struggling with his shooting in the previous three games.

Alija Martin kept FAU at it, scoring 19 of their 26 points in the second half, and it seemed like he had an answer for every move of the Aztecs.

He didn’t get one last chance.


https://abc13.com/san-diego-state-wins-march-madness-final-four/13067712/

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