March got a little madder Saturday when San Diego State overcame a 14-point deficit to beat FAU 72-71 — the fifth-largest comeback in NCAA Tournament history.
FAU led 71-70 with possession and 37 seconds remaining in the game. Johnell Davis ended up missing what would have been a game-changing bucket, and Nathan Mensah grabbed the defensive rebound with just seven seconds remaining.
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SDSU coach Brian Dutcher elected not to call timeout, instead allowing to let the game play out. The result: the first true buzzer-beater of the 2023 NCAA Tournament, courtesy of junior Lamont Butler, who finished the game with nine points:
LAMONT BUTLER WINS IT AT THE BUZZER 😱
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 2, 2023
THE AZTECS ARE #NATIONALCHAMPIONSHIP BOUND 🔥#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/2sqxu5g05j
Dutcher was asked immediately after the game why he chose not to take his final timeout to set up a go-ahead attempt. His response was as honest as it was humorous:
"I ran out of plays, so I decided not to take a timeout," he said.
DeCOURCY: Deeper look inside the game-winning play
Here are Dutcher and Butler's explanations of the play in the immediate aftermath:
"This is what I came here to do!"
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 2, 2023
Lamont Butler says he was comfortable taking the final shot that lifted San Diego State past Florida Atlantic at the buzzer 👏 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/nr61uUSkkI
A short time later, both provided more detail behind the decision and the play. The initial intent was for San Diego State to use its superior height to force something at the rim. FAU's defense forced Butler to make a play away from the paint.
MORE: Who is Lamont Butler? What to know about Aztecs junior
"Coach decided not to call a timeout at the end, it was about seven seconds left when we got the ball," Butler said. "And he told me, 'Just go downhill and try to get something at the rim.' But they did a good job cutting me off. Once I looked up, it was two seconds left, so I knew I had to make a shot, so I got to a shot that I’m comfortable with, one-jump pull-up, and I’m just glad it went in."
Dutcher said his decision to keep the clock running was "simply a feel" that it was the right move. He said any defensive rebound would come with about seven seconds left, which would allow his team just enough time to get up the floor and attempt the game-winner.
MORE: FAU vs. San Diego State final score, results
"I just thought at that time, ‘Let’s just go downhill,’" Dutcher said. "We had three bigs in the game. ... I just told ‘em, 'You three guys run to the rim, Lamont, you go to the basket, and we’ll see what happens.’ And Lamont made the shot."
This isn't the first time Butler has made a big shot in the final seconds. He hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from the top of the arc vs. New Mexico on Feb. 23.
(Curiously, Dutcher did call a timeout in that game, with roughly the same amount of time remaining.)
"I told him in Albuquerque to get to the rim, too, and he shot a pull-up 3 and made it," Dutcher said. "I’ll quit telling him what to do and just say, ‘Lamont, you get the ball.’ And then I’ll live with whatever happens.
"You know, I always say March is for players, not for coaches. Lamont made a play, and made an old coach look good."