BUZZER BEATER: San Diego State dramatically defeats Florida Atlantic at Final Four

Roy Williams, sitting in the front row for the Final Four at NRG Stadium on Saturday, has said teams build their momentum throughout the NCAA Tournament. He should know, he won three national championships at North Carolina, went to two more Final Fours there and four more while coaching Kansas.

It also helps to have a little good fortune.

San Diego State defeated Florida Atlantic 72-71 when Lamont Butler’s jumper swished through the net just before the buzzer sounded.

The Aztecs will play for the national championship on Monday night against Connecticut.

With Florida Atlantic leading by one, Johnell Davis missed a runner with nine seconds remaining, and San Diego State’s Nathan Mensah snared the rebound. He delivered an outlet pass to Butler, who never gave it up. He dribbled to the baseline and with the clock winding down got off a smooth jumper that was true.

Butler’s original thought was to go to the rim.

“They did a good job cutting me off,” Butler said. “Once I looked up, it was two seconds left, I knew I had to make a shot. I got to a shot I’m comfortable with. Went to a pull-up. It felt good once it left my hand. Glad it went in.”

The Aztecs had battled from a 14-point second half deficit, but they know something about comebacks. San Diego State trailed top-seed Alabama by nine points and Creighton by seven in the second half of the South Regional games last week.

Now, the program in its first Final Four will play for the national championship.

Here are takeaways from a superb semifinal:

Did Owls shoot too soon?

Florida Atlantic, bidding to become the first No. 9 seed to play for the title, didn’t trail in the second half until Butler’s game winner. Did the Owls handle their final possession correctly?

Davis was determined to shoot it. But there was a six-second difference on the shot clock, meaning he could have waited another three before firing.

Even with a miss and a San Diego State rebound, there might not have been enough time to get off a decent final look for the Aztecs.

San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher said he believed seven seconds would have been enough time to get off a final shot.

“Usually you get one dribble per second if you’re going up the floor,” Dutcher said. “So I figured we had enough time to get six or seven dribbles to head up the floor.”

San Diego State thrives in rock fights

When the game was free flowing, the Owls were the better team. That’s how they took control midway through the first half, led by seven at the break and by as many as 14 in the second half.

But San Diego State is at its best when the game becomes more of a rock fight, and that started to happen with the Owls leading 65-60 and about 7:45 remaining.

Over the next 5 1/2 minutes, San Diego State slowly chipped away, forcing a couple of bad shots but mostly keeping alive possessions off missed free throws. The Aztecs missed eight of 12 from the line but the points were building while Florida Atlantic wasn’t scoring.

Timing favors Aztecs

With 57.8 seconds remaining Alijah Martin hit a high degree of difficulty reverse layup to give Florida Atlantic a 71-68 lead.

San Diego State answered immediately with Jaedon LeDee’s inside basket and the timing was important. LeDee’s bucket landed with 41.7 seconds remaining, meaning the Aztecs were going to get a final possession no matter what the Owls did.

Florida Atlantic missed, and the stage was set for the final dramatics.

San Diego State’s momentum continues. With a little good fortune.