Lamont Butler delivered a shining moment for San Diego State on Saturday night in their Final Four appearance against Florida Atlantic.
Butler received the ball with less than 1 second left in the game, got up and shot the ball to the rim to give the Aztecs a 72-71 victory over the Owls. San Diego State will be heading to its first appearance in a national championship game against either UConn or Miami.
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San Diego State forward Keshad Johnson, left, and Florida Atlantic guard Bryan Greenlee, right, battle for the ball during the first half of a Final Four college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, April 1, 2023 in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Butler finished with nine points on 3-of-6 shooting.
San Diego State was down by as many as 14 points and only needed a miss by Florida Atlantic in the final minutes of the game to take the lead. Johnell Davis made two free throws with 1:20 to go and Jaedon LeDee responded with a layup.
On the next possession, Florida Atlantic’s Alijah Martin made a sweet reverse layup to move up three points again. They were two of her 19 points in the second half. But LeDee would respond and keep the deficit to one point.
Davis would try to get the Owls back up three points with the shot clock about to run out. However, Davis would miss the layup and Nathan Mensah would clean it up. Butler would find the ball in his hands and put San Diego State into the national championship game.
San Diego State guard Lamont Butler (5) shoots over Florida Atlantic center Vladislav Goldin (50) during the first half of a Final Four college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, April 1 of 2023 in Houston. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
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LeDee finished with 12 points off the bench.
Matt Bradley led San Diego State with 21 points on 5-of-12 shooting. Bradley and LeDee were the only Aztecs players in double figures.
Florida Atlantic forward Giancarlo Rosado, right, falls on San Diego State forward Aguek Arop during the first half of a Final Four college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, April 1, 2023 In Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Florida Atlantic guard Nicholas Boyd celebrates after scoring against San Diego State during the first half of a Final Four college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, April 1, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Florida Atlantic took a seven-point lead at halftime.
Martin and Nicholas Boyd were the only two Owls players in double figures. Martin led the way with 26 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Boyd scored 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field.
Florida Atlantic head coach Dusty May reacts during the first half of a Final Four college basketball game against San Diego State in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, April 1, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
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It was the first time either team had been in the Final Four. One improbable streak continues Monday night and the other improbable streak has come to an end.