A week ago, San Diego Stateโs season appeared over in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. The Aztecs trailed at halftime by five to Creighton and trailed by seven points midway through the second half in a game that was low-scoring and seven points felt like double that. But, The Aztecs rallied and won on a controversial call.
Here's the foul call on Creighton that led to San Diego State's go-ahead free throw (went 1-of-2 at the line). ๐ ๐ฆ#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/rTC3xj1Hbp
โ Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 26, 2023
And, again, San Diego State found itself on the ropes again. Cinderella story Florida Atlantic had outplayed the Aztecs thoroughly, and trailed by 14, 56-42, with just under 14 minutes remaining in the game.
Giancarlo Rosado came to play ๐ฅ
He hasn't missed from the field yet ๐#MarchMadness @FAUMBB pic.twitter.com/taYj0pp5UD
โ NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 1, 2023
Bryan Greenlee gets right to the basket ๐ฅ#MarchMadness @FAUMBB pic.twitter.com/ys79UBv09j
โ NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 1, 2023
And, San Diego State is not a great offensive team at all, so that was a steep deficit. But, they came roaring back.
Here come the Aztecs ๐#MarchMadness @Aztec_MBB pic.twitter.com/QtZWT4uNlQ
โ NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 1, 2023
TIE GAME ๐ฎ#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/DFjsCn5pwz
โ NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 2, 2023
TIE GAME ๐ฎ#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/DFjsCn5pwz
โ NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 2, 2023
Still, they found themselves down one in the final seconds, needing the biggest play in their schoolโs history. Guard Lamont Butler obliged with some major onions.
SAN DIEGO STATE WILL PLAY FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP pic.twitter.com/5NWXWvl138
โ CBS Sports College Basketball ๐ (@CBSSportsCBB) April 2, 2023
What a shot. Take a look at the San Diego State student section reaction.
The reaction of the San Diego State student section after the game winner ๐๐ pic.twitter.com/eePBkrqgOy
โ Lineups (@lineups) April 2, 2023
What a wild ride for the Mountain West team, which is the first team from the conference to make the final four and now the National Championship game.
They will open up as significant underdogs to the red-hot UConn Huskies, though, as the early line has them as 7.5 underdogs on Monday night.