The San Diego Converse Aztecs are off to the 2023 NCAA tournament nationwide championship.
They punched their imprint to the title game Saturday in rather dramatic vogue after Lamont Butler‘s buzzer-beater secured a 72-71 receive over the Florida Atlantic Owls in Houston.
With the victory, San Diego Converse appears to turn out to be the second team within the past 50 years to receive the title after making its first Closing Four look. After trailing 40-33 at halftime, Matt Bradley led the Aztecs’ second-half of comeback by scoring or assisting on 27 design.
Necessary numbers
5: Butler’s fully shot of the second half of was as soon as the fifth game-winning buzzer-beater in Closing Four historic past. San Diego Converse’s 14-point comeback was as soon as the fifth-most life like doubtless rally in a Closing Four game. Or now not furthermore it’s a long way the most life like doubtless deficit the Aztecs overcame this season.
2: The Aztecs won on the second game-winning buzzer-beater in a nationwide semifinal game for the rationale that tournament expanded in 1985, joining Jalen Suggs‘ shot for the Gonzaga Bulldogs in opposition to the UCLA Bruins in 2021.
10: SDSU is 10-1 in video games determined by 5 design or fewer this season.
20: San Diego Converse’s bench outscored Florida Atlantic’s reserves 20-2 within the second half of. The Aztecs’ bench shot 54% from the field, going 2-for-2 from within the again of the arc.
Right here’s how San Diego’s most though-provoking reacted to the game:
— NCAA March Insanity (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 2, 2023
Dance, allege, or fetch out of the fashion for the rationale that AZTECS ARE GOING TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP#TheTimeIsNow | #MFinalFour pic.twitter.com/70YqitR8zr
— San Diego Converse Men’s Basketball (@Aztec_MBB) April 2, 2023
What a build pic.twitter.com/dofIyWv2NB
— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) April 2, 2023
Scene from Petco Park when the #Aztecs WON pic.twitter.com/2ypszqkrAs
— Annie Heilbrunn (@annieheilbrunn) April 2, 2023
Sports activities Twitter goes off
THAT. JUST. HAPPENED. 🤯#MFinalFour x @Aztec_MBB pic.twitter.com/mPEz7eXnYb
— NCAA Men’s Closing Four (@MFinalFour) April 2, 2023
Wow celebration occasion time in San Diego ! Yes @Aztec_MBB heading to the @MarchMadnessMBB championship . The Smartly-known particular person of Stars – LAMONT BUTLER with the winner !
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) April 2, 2023
Lamont Butler’s game-winning buzzer-beater was as soon as the fifth in a Closing Four game all-time.
He joins:
🏀Jalen Suggs (GONZ, 2021)
🏀Kris Jenkins (VILL, 2016)
🏀Lorenzo Charles (NCST, 1983)
🏀Jerome Whitehead (MARQ, 1977) pic.twitter.com/C83ZGLrXzX
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 2, 2023
POV: You is seemingly to be a San Diego Converse fan searching on the Aztecs hit a buzzer beater to come to the Nationwide Championship 👀#MarchMadness @Aztec_MBB pic.twitter.com/zheVeQsLTe
— NCAA March Insanity (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 2, 2023
NBA world weighs in
Huge second for College basketball
— Nick Young (@NickSwagyPYoung) April 2, 2023
Astronomical time f***ing shot Lamont!
— De’Aaron Fox (@swipathefox) April 2, 2023
GAME
— Michael Carter-Willi (@mcarterwilliams) April 2, 2023
Wow 🫡
— Buddy Appreciate !!!! (@buddyhield) April 2, 2023