Did San Diego State win today? Lamont Butler’s buzzer beater against Florida Atlantic in the Final Four game sends the team into the title game

HOUSTON– Lamont Butler made a jump on the buzzer and sent San Diego State to its first national championship game with a 72-71 win over compatriot Florida Atlantic in Saturday night’s Final Four.

“It’s incredible,” said Butler. “That’s why I came here. I’m glad the shot went in. I’m happy for my team right now.”

The Aztecs (32-6) appeared to be in trouble as the free-flowing Owls (35-4) tore them apart and built a 14-point lead.

San Diego State, as always, came back into the game on defense.

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The Aztecs closed the FAU and pulled within one when Jaedon LeDee hit a short jumper with 36 seconds left. After FAU’s Johnell Davis missed a contested layup, the Aztecs didn’t call a timeout and got the ball to Butler.

The clock was ticking, Butler dribbled to the baseline, found it clipped and circled back. He stepped back to make some space and hit a jumper that sent the Aztecs to the ground – and into Monday’s championship game against either UConn or Miami.

“The plan was just to get downhill,” Butler said. “They cut me off a bit. I looked up, there were two seconds left, so I got to a shot that I’m comfortable with. And I met him.”

San Diego State’s defense played a key role in its advance to the Finals. It has bested four straight opponents to open the NCAA tournament.

The Aztecs had no response from the Wobbly Owls in the first half, allowing them to hit 5 of 11 from 3-point range to build a 40-33 halftime lead.

In the middle of the second half, FAU extended their lead to 14.

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Then the Aztecs grew gloomy.

San Diego State fought nearly every shot and pass while parrying a string of offensive rebounds to reach a tie at 65. Matt Bradley led offense in the second half and finished the game with 21 points after struggling with his shot in the previous three games.

Alijah Martin kept FAU on the ball, scoring 19 of his 26 points in the second half and seeming to have an answer for every Aztec move.

He had no chance of a final.