Final Four drama: Lamont Butler throws killswitch at buzzer to crush FAU
The Final Four can be one the most exhilarating and heartbreaking nights in sports, and the game between FAU and San Diego State ended the only way it could.
When you have a No. 9 seed playing a No. 5 seed in the Final Four, you know some ridiculous moments had to happen in the weeks prior, which means that you can really have some dramatic moments in the game.
The game looked to be an FAU romp early on. The Owls took a seven-point lead into the half, then extended that lead to as much as 14 points into the second half, and during that run, the Aztecs seemed to let FAU know they werenât going away.
The Aztecs slowly crept back into the game, using their suffocating style of defense to shut down FAU and cut to lead to just one point with less than two minutes left.
Back and forth they went, one responding to the other pointing to a âlast one holding the ball winsâ ending for a classic Final Four game.
And then it happened.
The Owls had a shot as the game clock was winding down to put the game away, but a blocked shot and a quick transition into offense flipped the script in the most incredible way possible.
Then, Lamont Butler said, âI got this, guysâ and buried a nothing-but-net jumper as the buzzer sounded, sending San Diego State to the championship game.
For a game featuring two teams that almost no one figured to be in, this was one of the hardest-fought and most entertaining games of the tournament.
A heartbreaking loss for FAU, who really seemed to take their foot off the gas once they got a comfortable lead. Kudos to the Owls and coach Dusty May for an incredible season and even more impressive tournament run.
And now, the Aztecs will await the winner of the Miami-UConn game for their shot at a first-ever national title for San Diego State.