National Basketball Association
Butler 74, Florida 71
When: 4:20 PM ET, Saturday, March 26, 2011
Where: New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana
Officials:
# Karl Hess, # Jamie Luckie, # Michael Stephens
Attendance:
12139
By SportsDirect Inc.
NEW ORLEANS – Shelvin Mack scored 27 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer in overtime, to lead Butler back to the Final Four for the second straight season with a 74-71 win over Florida in the Southeast Regional title game on Saturday.
Mack’s 3-pointer with 1:20 to play gave Butler (29-7) a 72-70 lead. The junior guard added two free throws with 10.6 seconds remaining that put the Bulldogs up three. Florida’s Erving Walker missed a 3-pointer with six seconds left, and Butler corralled the rebound to seal the victory.
Walker also missed a last-second, potential game-winning 3-point attempt
at the end of regulation. He made just 1-of-10 shots and scored eight
points.
Eighth-seeded Butler has won 13 straight games and faces either Kansas or Virginia Commonwealth in next Saturday’s national semifinals in Houston.
Vernon Macklin scored a season-high 25 points and Kenny Boynton finished with 17 for second-seeded Florida (29-8).
Matt Howard added 14 points for the Bulldogs, who lost to Duke in last season’s NCAA championship game.
Butler rallied from an 11-point second-half deficit. Florida led 51-40 with 9:25 remaining after Alex Tyus scored eight of his 14 points during a 12-1 run. Tyus also had 10 rebounds.
Mack scored back-to-back baskets to help Butler complete a comeback and tie the score at 57 with 3:02 remaining.
Top Game Performances
Butler |
|
Florida |
Shelvin Mack 27 |
Scoring |
Vernon Macklin 25 |
Shelvin Mack 4 |
Assists |
Erving Walker 4 |
Andrew Smith 8 |
Rebounds |
Alex Tyus 10 |
Shelvin Mack 7 |
Free Throws Made |
Kenny Boynton 6 |
Shelvin Mack 1 |
Steals |
Chandler Parsons 2 |
Andrew Smith 1 |
Blocks |
Alex Tyus 2 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
Butler
|
74 |
40.0 |
9-33 |
17-27 |
8 |
36 |
1 |
2 |
|
Florida
|
71 |
43.9 |
3-14 |
18-22 |
10 |
33 |
3 |
6 |
|