Late 11-0 run helps Butler knock off No. 1 seed 'Cuse

Willie Veasley glanced up while running back on defense as his 3-pointer bounced high off the rim like so many of Butler's shots had before.

He paused, though, as the ball drifted back, caromed off the backboard and fell through the net - a huge bounce that helped seal the Bulldogs' 63-59 upset of top-seeded Syracuse on Thursday night in the West Regional semifinals at Salt Lake City.

Veasley followed his fortunate 3 with a tip-in as the Bulldogs scored 11 straight points and became the latest mid-major team to knock off a top seed in the NCAA tournament.

Now, after reaching the regional finals for the first time in school history, Butler is one win from going home to Indianapolis for the Final Four.

see TOURNEY, B2

"I was headed down the court on defense because I figured it was going to go over the top of the backboard. But I looked back and it came down and went through," Veasley said. "That was a H-O-R-S-E shot. I've never made a shot quite like that."

Veasley pumped his fist and grinned as he continued toward the other end. It was fitting that he was already headed back on defense. Instead of Syracuse's vaunted zone controlling the game, Butler's pesky man-to-man defense was the difference as the Bulldogs scrapped through poor shooting and won their 23rd straight game.

"We said this word over and over in Indianapolis, and that word is 'resolve.' These guys have resolve," Butler coach Brad Stevens said. "It's hard to measure, but they've got it."

The Bulldogs (31-4) certainly did in the last five minutes, holding the Orange without a point from the time Syracuse went up by four with 5:23 left until a too-little-too-late layup with 35 seconds remaining.

Gordon Hayward scored 17 points and started the celebration while dribbling out the clock after the Bulldogs forced Syracuse into its 18th turnover.

The Orange (30-5) made only three more field goals than turnovers in another loss in the round of 16. Syracuse hasn't played in the regional finals since winning the 2003 national title.

"The game was a story of turnovers. They didn't make turnovers," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. "They were really good with the basketball. We just had 18 turnovers and you can't give away that many possessions."

Veasley finished with 13 points and three steals. Ronald Nored finished with five steals and hit a 3-pointer to start the decisive run.

"Under any circumstance, I think we're poised. You have to be tough," said Nored, whose 3-pointer with 3:14 left cut Syracuse's lead to 54-53.

“I was headed down the court on defense because I figured it was going to go over the top of the backboard. But I looked back and it came down and went through,” Veasley said. “That was a H-O-R-S-E shot. I’ve never made a shot quite like that.”

Veasley pumped his fist and grinned as he continued toward the other end. It was fitting that he was already headed back on defense. Instead of Syracuse’s vaunted zone controlling the game, Butler’s pesky man-to-man defense was the difference as the Bulldogs scrapped through poor shooting and won their 23rd straight game.

“We said this word over and over in Indianapolis, and that word is ‘resolve.’ These guys have resolve,” Butler coach Brad Stevens said. “It’s hard to measure, but they’ve got it.”

The Bulldogs (31-4) certainly did in the last five minutes, holding the Orange without a point from the time Syracuse went up by four with 5:23 left until a too-little-too-late layup with 35 seconds remaining.

Gordon Hayward scored 17 points and started the celebration while dribbling out the clock after the Bulldogs forced Syracuse into its 18th turnover.

The Orange (30-5) made only three more field goals than turnovers in another loss in the round of 16. Syracuse hasn’t played in the regional finals since winning the 2003 national title.

Butler will face Kansas State in the regional championship Saturday.

Kansas State 101, Xavier 96, 2OT: At Salt Lake City, Jacob Pullen made a 3-pointer with 31.2 seconds left in the second overtime for the go-ahead points in second-seeded Kansas State’s victory over No. 6 Xavier in the West Regional semifinals.

Terrell Holloway answered with two free throws, but Pullen came back with two of his own. Then, Xavier’s Dante Jackson missed a 3-pointer that would’ve tied it and the Wildcats (29-7) iced it.

Xavier’s Jordan Crawford hit a 35-foot shot with 4 seconds left in the first OT to tie it. Holloway sent the game into the first overtime by making three straight free throws after being fouled while shooting from behind the arc with 5 seconds left.

Crawford led Xavier (26-7) with 32 points and Pullen led the Wildcats with 28, including eight in the second overtime.

West Virginia 69, Washington 56: At Syracuse, N.Y., Da’Sean Butler shook off a sore right hand and helped West Virginia shake off feisty Washington to reach the East Regional finals.

Butler kept playing after hurting himself midway through the second half and scored 14 points while Kevin Jones added 18 and eight rebounds in leading the second-seeded Mountaineers over the 11th-seeded Huskies.

Coach Bob Huggins’ Big East champions (30-6) won their ninth in a row and set a school record for victories, surpassing the mark set by the Jerry West-led 1958-59 team that lost in the NCAA championship game.

Justin Holiday scored 14 and added eight rebounds for the Huskies (26-10), who were at a disadvantage after leading scorer Quincy Pondexter picked up his third foul with 4:27 left in the first half. Pondexter didn’t score his first basket until 2:30 into the second half, and finished with seven points.

“It definitely hurts. We made a great run down the last stretch of the season,” Pondexter said. “It hurts right now. There’s nothing much to say about it.”

Point guard Isaiah Thomas scored 13 before fouling out with 2:41 left. The Huskies had a nine-game win streak snapped. They were trying to become only the fourth school seeded 11th or lower to reach the round of eight.

West Virginia will face Kentucky in the regional championship Saturday.

Kentucky 62, Cornell 45: At Syracuse, N.Y., John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson stopped Cornell’s (29-5) captivating tournament run, giving the top-seeded Wildcats (35-2) a win in the East Regional semifinals.

Cornell, the nation’s top 3-point shooting team, continuously misfired from beyond the arc and couldn’t catch up against a Kentucky lineup that could stage a reunion at the NBA’s 2012 Rookie Challenge.

Cousins scored 16 points and Eric Bledsoe 10 for Kentucky.

Louis Dale led Cornell with 17 points. The Big Red shot just 5 for 21 on 3s.