Mack shows Butler the way back to Final Four

NEW ORLEANS - Of course Butler erased a late deficit. Of course the Bulldogs hit a clutch 3-pointer late in overtime. Of course they're going back to the Final Four.

This is the Butler Way.

Shelvin Mack scored 27 points, including five in overtime, and Butler reached the Final Four for the second year in a row with a 74-71 victory over Florida on Saturday.

"This is a huge deal," said Zach Hahn, whose two 3-pointers helped Butler stay close in the first half. "I don't know that any other mid-major has ever done this. It's hardly happened once, let alone twice. It's an unbelievable feeling."

Butler, the Horizon League champ, has vanquished three higher seeds from major conferences - top-seeded Pittsburgh, fourth-seeded Wisconsin and now second-seeded Florida - in succession.

Matt Howard scored 14 and Khyle Marshall added 10 for the Bulldogs (27-9), who showed again they simply won't give in, climbing out of an 11-point hole in the last 9:25 of the second half.

Mack was playing through pain after rolling his left ankle in the first half and needed a small bandage on his forehead in the second half.

"It's a physical game. That's what the NCAA tournament is all about," Mack said. "You wouldn't want it any other way."

Kenny Boynton missed a long 3 that could have given Florida (29-8) the lead with a little under 20 seconds left. Alex Tyus appeared to have the offensive rebound, but Howard tied him up and the possession arrow favored Butler.

"Congratulations to Butler," Florida coach Billy Donovan said. "They had great, great heart tonight. ... I knew they had that, you know, all year long."

BUTLER (27-9)

Howard 5-12 3-6 14, Smith 1-2 1-2 3, Mack 8-20 7-11 27, Vanzant 3-9 0-0 7, Stigall 0-3 0-0 0, Hahn 2-5 0-0 6, Nored 0-2 4-4 4, Hopkins 1-1 0-0 3, Marshall 4-6 2-4 10, Butcher 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-60 17-27 74.

FLORIDA (29-8)

Tyus 6-12 2-2 14, Parsons 2-9 0-0 5, Macklin 11-14 3-5 25, Boynton 5-9 6-7 17, Walker 1-10 5-6 8, Young 0-2 2-2 2, Wilbekin 0-1 0-0 0, Murphy 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-57 18-22 71.

Halftime_Florida 33-32. End Of Regulation_Tied 60. 3-Point Goals_Butler 9-33 (Mack 4-13, Hahn 2-5, Hopkins 1-1, Vanzant 1-3, Howard 1-6, Nored 0-2, Stigall 0-3), Florida 3-14 (Parsons 1-3, Boynton 1-3, Walker 1-7, Wilbekin 0-1). Fouled Out_Smith. Rebounds_Butler 41 (Smith 8), Florida 34 (Tyus 10). Assists_Butler 8 (Mack 4), Florida 10 (Walker 4). Total Fouls_Butler 20, Florida 24. A_12,139.