Nasir Robinson (35) scored 16 points, but committed a crucial foul in the final seconds. (Photo: Associated Press)

For the second time in just over 48 hours, Matt Howard was a hero for Butler. The senior from Connersville, Ind. knocked down one of two foul shots with 0.8 seconds remaining to give the Bulldogs, the number 8 seed in the Southeast Region, a 71-70 victory over No. 1 seeded Pittsburgh after a bizarre finish. The Bulldogs advance to play either Kansas State or Wisconsin in the Sweet 16 in New Orleans next Thursday.

Butler thought they had the game won when Andrew Smith's layup gave them a 70-69 lead with 2.2 seconds to play. But the officials called a foul on Shelvin Mack, who they ruled had body-blocked Gilbert Brown while the latter was trying to get off a desperation shot. Brown was sent to the line with 1.4 seconds to play and made just one of two foul shots to tie the game 70-70. Off the miss, Howard came down with the rebound and tried to heave the ball downcourt to force overtime. However, in the process, he was hacked on the arm by Nasir Robinson and the officials called a foul to set up Howard's heroics.

Butler came out hot in the first half, making four of their first five three-point attempts to take a 20-14 lead with 11:58 to go in the first half. Five straight points by Mack, who led all scorers with 16 in the first half and finished with 30 for the game, made the score 30-18 to the Bulldogs with 6:12 to go before intermission. The Panthers did have one first half run in them, though, and score the next nine points to cut their deficit to 30-27 and force Butler to use a timeout with 3:39 to go in regulation. Brown's jumper with 3:10 left in the half brought the Panthers to within 30-29, but Butler responded with two more Mack three-pointers sandwiched around a dunk by Howard to take a 38-30 lead into halftime.

Pitt responded brilliantly, however, opening the second half by making five of their first seven shots to tie the game 41-41. Then, with 14:33 left, Brad Wanamaker's jumper gave the Panthers their first lead since the score was 4-2 early in the first half.

 The teams traded punches throughout the last seven minutes of regulation after Brown made three free throws to break a 57-57 tie with 6:19 to go in regulation. Butler battled back to take a 62-60 lead after a three-pointer by Mack and a layup by Howard. Two more foul shots by Howard put Butler up 66-62 with 3:40 left before a three by Brown cut the deficit back to one.

Mack made one of two free throws to make the score 67-65 to Butler with 2:45 to go, but a layup by McGhee and two Wanamaker free throws put Pitt back on top, 69-67 with 1:58 left. After a Smith free throw made it a one-point game, the two sides exchanged fruitless possessions as Smith missed a layup with 44 seconds to go before Pitt committed a shot clock violation with 8.9 seconds left to set up the wild ending.

Mack led all scorers with 30 points, while Brown finished with 24 points. Both Howard of Butler and Robinson of Pitt finished with 16 points.