Lamont Butler delivered a shining moment for San Diego State on Saturday night in their Final Four appearance against Florida Atlantic.
Butler received the ball with less than a second remaining in the game, got up and shot the ball to the rim to give the Aztecs a 72-71 victory over the Owls.
San Diego State is heading to its first national championship game against either UConn or Miami.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
San Diego State forward Keshad Johnson, left, and Florida Atlantic guard Bryan Greenlee, right, battle for the ball during the first half of a Final Four game in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday April 1, 2023 in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Butler finished with nine points on 3-of-6 shooting.
San Diego State trailed by as many as 14 points and only needed a miss by Florida Atlantic in the final minutes of the game to take the lead. Johnell Davis made two free throws with 1:20 to go and Jaedon LeDee responded with a layup.
On the next possession, Florida Atlantic’s Alijah Martin made a reverse layup for two of his 19 second-half points to put the Owls up three. But LeDee responded to bring the deficit down to one.
Davis tried to get the Owls back up three points with the shot clock running down. However, Davis missed a layup and Nathan Mensah grabbed the rebound. Butler then got the ball and advanced San Diego State to the national championship game.
San Diego State guard Lamont Butler (5) shoots over Florida Atlantic center Vladislav Goldin (50) during the first half of a Final Four game in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, April 1, 2023 In Houston. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
LONGSTREAM SPORTS JOURNALIST, BEST-SELLING AUTHOR REFUSES TO TRAVEL TO TEXAS FOR FINAL FOUR ON GUN LAWS
LeDee finished with 12 points off the bench.
Matt Bradley led San Diego State with 21 points on 5-of-12 shooting. Bradley and LeDee were the only Aztecs players in double figures.
Florida Atlantic forward Giancarlo Rosado, right, falls on San Diego State forward Aguek Arop during the first half of a Final Four game in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, April 1, 2023, in Houston . (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Florida Atlantic guard Nicholas Boyd celebrates after scoring against San Diego State during the first half of a Final Four game in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, April 1, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Florida Atlantic took a seven-point lead at halftime.
Martin and Nicholas Boyd were the only two Owls players in double figures. Martin led the way with 26 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Boyd scored 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting from the field.
Florida Atlantic head coach Dusty May reacts during the first half of a Final Four game against San Diego State in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, April 1, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
It was the first time either team had played in the Final Four.