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National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
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

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