HOUSTON — San Diego State guard Lamont Butler understood the assignment during Saturday night’s NCAA Tournament men’s Final Four.
With the play clock winding down and his team trailing by a point, San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher made it clear to Butler that his job was to either drive the baseline for the layup.
Butler, however, saw that the baseline was taken away and with two seconds remaining in the game he pulled up for the biggest buzzer-beater jumper in Aztecs history, lifting the fifth-seeded San Diego State a 72-71 come-from-behind victory over 9th seed Florida Atlantic and the school’s first-ever championship berth.
San Diego State now awaits the UConn-Miami winner for Monday night’s national championship game at Houston’s NRG Stadium.
“It’s unbelievable,” Butler said. “It’s what I came here to do. I’m glad the shot went in.
“I’m just happy for my team right now.”
San Diego State’s unlikely run to title game
The Aztecs are now the most unexpected NCAA Tournament national finalists in a tournament that has been defined by shocking upsets and maybe the most unusual Final Four field ever. Not only is this the Aztec’s first national title appearance, it’s also a first for Mountain West.
And to do so Saturday night, San Diego State, which trailed 56-42 with 13:53 remaining in the game, mounted the third-biggest comeback in the men’s national semifinals history and the fifth-largest comeback in men’s Final Four history.
It didn’t end the way Dutcher drew it up, but he will take it.
“Lamont made the shot,” Dutcher said. “I always say March is for players, not coaches. Lamont made a play, and made his old coach look good.”
Snatching the game from Florida Atlantic
For much of the game, Florida Atlantic seemed well on its way to continuing its improbable run to the championship game. But untimely turnovers in the front court and the Aztecs second chance shots changed the momentum.
Matt Bradley led the Aztecs in scoring with 21 points on 5 of 12 shooting, following a couple of off shooting games leading up to The Final Four. Butler finished with nine points and three assists, while big man Jaedon LeDee fought through inconsistency to finish the game with some big shots in the paint down the stretch.
The Owls were led by Alijah Martin’s 26 points on the night.
“We were just motivated,” Bradley said. “We’d been in that position so many times throughout the year. We’ve always been knocked down. But the biggest thing is get back up and keep fighting.”
Terrance Harris covers college basketball for Sportsnaut. You can follow him on Twitter at @TerranceHarris.