Butler does it! Aztecs reach title game

M aRk ZEiglER THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE

HOUSTON — San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher just stood there while the net danced and pandemonium erupted around him. Players charged onto the court and jumped on Lamont Butler, first Aguek Arop, then Darrion Trammell, then Elijah Saunder off the bench, maybe the fastest a 6-foot-8, 240-pound human has ever moved.

An assistant coach jumped on the back of another.

Dutcher just stood there through it all. And smiled. And shook his head. The adventure continues. The magical, mystical, marvelous ride continues.

San Diego State trailed by 14 and didn’t lead Florida Atlantic in the second half until Lamont Butler’s 14-footer from the right side was released with .6 seconds left and made the net dance after 0:00, giving the Aztecs a

72-71 win at Houston’s NRG Stadium and putting them in the national champion game here Monday night against Connecticut or Miami.

Repeat: SDSU will play for the national championship.

In basketball.

That is not an April Fool’s joke.

It wasn’t Butler’s dramatic first buzzer beater of his career, or even the season. He made a deep 3-pointer at New Mexico in a sold-out Pit in late Feb- ruary to clinch a share of the Mountain West title, so there was no mystery who was shooting when the Aztecs got the back down one with nine seconds left. Butler drove, stopped, created the slightest bit of separation and rose up to shoot.

Swish.

Pandemonium. “We found a way, and Lamont found a way to send us to the next round,” Dutcher said. “We’re proud to be moving on, representing San Diego