With about 15 minutes left, there was a foul on Aztec’s Micah Parrish.  Everyone started complaining and as that happened, Parrish elbowed Brandon Weatherspoon in the chest, and the Owls’ guard flopped to the ground to get the refs attention.  And while it was a little weak, it certainly deserved a technical foul.  Alijah Martin would hit the two free throws, and then get fouled shooting a three pointer to drain three more free throws.  Florida Atlantic was up 54-40.

But the technical foul seemed to also fire up the Aztecs.  San Diego State continued to cut the lead.  Every time the Aztecs would miss a shot, they would get the rebound, drive to the basket, and seem to get fouled.  It was crazy – really good shooters kept missing free throws and then the Aztecs would get another rebound and cut the lead 1-2 points at a time.  With four and a half minutes, Aguek Arop got a jumper along the baseline and tied the game at 65.

Giancarlo Rosardo would give the Owls back the lead with a fadeaway from the post at four minutes.  Both teams kept playing tough, physical defense, but the Owls would maintain a three point lead off some free throws from Johnell Davis.

But the Aztecs would not go away.  Jaedon LeDee drove to the hoop and laid it in with a minute to cut the lead to 1.  But Owls’ Alijah Martin made a pretty drive down the baseline for a reverse layup with 50 seconds to take a 71-68 lead.  LeDee rushed the ball down the court again, and with 36 seconds hit a jumper to once again cut the lead to 1.

As timeout was called, everyone wondered if the Aztecs would foul and extend the game.  But instead, not only did the Aztecs decide to play defense, they went big, removing both their leading scores in Matt Bradley and Darrion Trammell.  With the shot clock running down, the Owls’ season leading scorer, Johnell Davis drove the lane but had his layup blocked by Aguek Arop and Nathan Mensah comes down with the ball with under 10 seconds to play.

Mensah outlets the ball to Lamont Butler, he takes it to the corner but gets cut-off from going down the baseline to the basket.  With under 2 seconds, Butler reverses back away from the basket and realizing time is running out, puts up a jumper with 0.5 seconds left.  And it hits nothing but net as the clock strikes 0.  San Diego State had not led since 10:34 in the first half.  But as the clock struck zero, the scoreboard showed Aztecs 72, Owls 71.

The Mountain West champions from San Diego State came from 14 points down to win at the buzzer and earn their trip to the championship game on Monday.

What an exciting game – we can only hope that we see something as exciting between the Miami Hurricanes and Connecticut Huskies!