HOUSTON—The record will reflect Lamont Butler produced the pull-up jumper that resulted in a victory at the buzzer, but true to its reputation, San Diego State secured a spot in the national championship game against UConn, by virtue of stifling defense.
Butler beat the buzzer with a shot that lifted the fifth-seeded Aztecs to a 72–71 victory over Florida Atlantic in the first national semifinal at the Final Four in Houston on Saturday, April 1. But it was what San Diego State mustered defensively in the second half that set the stage for Butler’s heroics.
After allowing the ninth-seeded Owls to shoot 53.6 percent in the first half, including 6 of 14 on 3-pointers, the Aztecs (32–6) limited FAU to 8–for–24 shooting after the break….