SPORTS - UConn earns Final Four bid, edges Arizona 65-63 (AP)

SPORTS - UConn earns Final Four bid, edges Arizona 65-63 (AP)

AP – Arizona's Kyle Fogg, center reacts after losing to Connecticut 65-63 at the NCAA West regional college …

By GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer Greg Beacham, Ap Sports Writer – Sat Mar 26, 10:58 pm ET

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Jim Calhoun could scarcely watch when the most improbable postseason run of his coaching life at Connecticut came down to an open 3-point attempt by Arizona's Jamelle Horne.

The shot clanged off the back rim. The clock hit zeros.

Nine victories in just 19 days. Calhoun has seen just about everything, but nothing like this — and now his Huskies will keep running all the way to Houston.

Kemba Walker scored 20 points, freshman Jeremy Lamb added 19 and UConn earned its second Final Four berth in three years, beating Arizona 65-63 Saturday to win the West regional.

After missing the NCAA tournament entirely last year, Calhoun's tireless team is headed to the Huskies' fourth Final Four, punctuated by an ebullient on-court celebration in a building packed with Arizona fans.

UConn simply hasn't lost since a .500 Big East regular season, winning five games in five days at the conference tournament before this NCAA run. Walker claims he isn't surprised by this sprint through the postseason, while Lamb has nothing to compare it to, leaving Calhoun alone in his grateful disbelief.

"Never did I imagine a team winning nine games in tournament play in 19 days," Calhoun said. "These brothers, these young guys, have just given me a thrill beyond compare. Our march in the past nine games, I haven't experienced anything like this."

UConn also made the Final Four in 1999, 2004 and 2009 — all three times out of the West. In sweet redemption for a program and a veteran coach tarred by scandals over the past year, the Huskies will face the winner of North Carolina's East regional final against Kentucky next Saturday.

Derrick Williams and Horne missed go-ahead 3-pointers in the final seconds for Arizona, allowing the third-seeded Huskies (30-9) to hang on after Lamb scored six key points down the stretch when Walker encouraged the Huskies to run plays for the fearless frosh.

"This is no time to be tired," Walker said. "We're trying to get as far as possible. We want to win this whole thing."

Williams had 20 points while battling foul trouble for the fifth-seeded Wildcats (30-8), who led with 6 minutes to play. After Lamb pushed the Huskies ahead and Walker hit a jumper with 1:13 left, Lamont Jones and Horne then hit late 3-pointers for Arizona, but the Wildcats couldn't convert two good looks in the final seconds.

"The second one, I thought it was definitely going in," Lamb said. "When he missed it, I looked at the clock and saw zero-zero, and I just went, 'Whooooo.' It's the best feeling I've ever had."

The Huskies are the last team standing from the Big East's 11 NCAA entrants. After going 9-9 in regular-season conference play, they've done more than even Calhoun might have expected just three weeks ago.

After the Wildcats missed their final two shots, Walker and Calhoun wrapped each other in a bear hug at center court after the buzzer as Emeka Okafor, Jake Voskuhl and other UConn alums celebrated on the court.

The two-time national champion coach has referred to his group as "an old-fashioned team," a praise of their work ethic and resilience. But they also showed remarkable poise down the stretch in a building firmly in favor of the Wildcats.

A year after Arizona's 25-year streak of NCAA tournament appearances ended, the Wildcats and second-year coach Sean Miller were one 3-pointer away from a return to the Final Four. Williams demolished Duke in the regional semifinals with a career-high 32 points, but three early fouls limited him to 7 minutes in the first half against UConn.

"I've never been prouder of a team, and I've never seen a team come so far as we did in a short period of time," Miller said. "It will probably feel better in a few weeks than it does now."

Jesse Perry scored 14 points for Arizona, which trailed 34-25 early in the second half before scoring nine straight points. The Wildcats reclaimed the lead with 14 1/2 minutes left on Williams' layup, but UConn quickly scored seven consecutive points.

The Huskies led 50-41 until the Wildcats made a 12-2 run that included two rim-ripping dunks by Williams and the go-ahead slam by Perry with 7:17 left. With Honda Center rocking in Arizona red, Lamb smoothly put the Huskies ahead before following Alex Oriakhi's putback layup with a steal and a dunk with 3:08 left for a seven-point lead.

UConn just keeps rolling in what has shaped up as a magnificent season after last year's disappointing NIT trip. The Huskies roared through the league tournament with an unprecedented display of endurance at Madison Square Garden.

"I only feel tired after everything is over," Walker said. "When I'm playing, it's no problem. I'm good."

Walker kept up his incredible scoring pace in the tournament, dropping 33 points on Cincinnati before equaling the highest-scoring tourney game in UConn history with 36 against San Diego State in the regional semis.

Jones did a fairly decent job slowing Walker, his good friend since the sixth grade in New York City. They played together for two years at Harlem's Rice High School, although Walker claimed their history wouldn't give Jones an advantage in their first head-to-head meeting since their AAU days.

Good thing Walker had Lamb, the lanky shooter who betrayed no inkling of nerves in the biggest game of his life.

"I definitely expected to play in the NCAA tournament and have a chance at the Final Four when I chose UConn," Lamb said. "I just didn't know it would happen this fast."

Arizona won the Pac-10 regular-season title and made the top 10 for the first time in late February, but lost consecutive league games in Los Angeles before dropping the Pac-10 tourney finale to Washington on a buzzer-beater.

Last week, Arizona knocked off powerful Memphis and Texas before their 93-77 victory over the Blue Devils.

The West Coast crowd was solidly behind Arizona, with red-and-blue fans filling most of the lower bowl. Williams and the Wildcats repeatedly waved their arms before UConn's possessions, riling up the noisy crowd.

"For us to be one of the last teams standing, a lot of people want to be in our shoes," Jones said. "It's unfortunate that it has to end here, but the feeling of playing here is something you'll always remember."

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SPORTS - Racing issue French rugby title warning to Toulouse (AFP)

SPORTS - Racing issue French rugby title warning to Toulouse (AFP)

AFP/Getty Images – Rafael Nadal of Spain serves against Kei Nishikori of Japan during the Sony Ericsson Open at Crandon …

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MIAMI (AFP) – Top seeds Rafael Nadal and Caroline Wozniacki lived up to expectations as both advanced with ease at the $9 million Miami WTA and ATP Masters tournament.

Nadal, on the quest for his first trophy since October in Tokyo, overpowered Japan's Kei Nishikori 6-4, 6-4 while Wozniacki beat Daniela Hantuchova 6-1, 7-6 (9/7).

World number one Nadal has yet to win a Miami title, finishing runner-up in 2005 to Roger Federer and three years later to Nikolay Davydenko. His win over Nishikori followed one at Wimbledon last year.

"It was one of those first rounds you don't want to see," said the Spaniard. "I'm very happy about how I played today -- I was at a high level tonight.

"The feeling was better than last week, so that's important. The serve worked very well at the end of the match."

World number three Federer notched another match win and another career milestone through a straight-sets win over Radek Stepanek.

The third-seeded Swiss defeated the Czech 6-3, 6-3 to reach the third round.

Seventh seed Tomas Berdych fought past Spain's Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo 6-1, 6-7 (4/7), 6-0.

But there was no joy for Andy Roddick, who became the second Miami title holder in as many years to exit in an opening match.

The American eighth seed, who has been troubled by a low-grade illness for a month, was ambushed by Pablo Cuevas 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).

"I had a little trouble breathing out there today," said Roddick, who will drop from the top 10 in the next rankings.

"I've had something for a little while, but I'm going to have it checked out when I get home.

"I didn't feel good all day. I've had it dating back to Memphis off and on. That's a little too long, I think."

Roddick, who played the Davis Cup tie at the start of the month in Chile, then failed to make the quarter-finals at the Masters 1000 event at Indian Wells.

He was treated on court on Saturday for both his illness and a groin problem.

Cuevas, ranked 67th in the world, had never played Roddick before and made the most of his first chance.

In the third round he will face Frenchman Gilles Simon, who beat German Rainer Schuettler 6-4, 6-3.

Federer, whose 16 grand slam titles are the most in history, joined Pete Sampras on seventh in the all-time win list with 762 career victories. Jimmy Connors sets the pace in that statistic with 1,242.

"It's nice tying Pete, but he could have played for many more years," said Federer. "He could still win some matches on tour now if he wanted to."

"It's a funny stat, but it shows how long I have been around already, how much I've won, all around the world and all the different surfaces. I've played 10, 12 solid seasons, you know," added Federer, who next faces Argentina's Juan Monaco -- a 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 6-4 winner over Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky.

Germany's Philipp Petzschner upset 10th-seeded Austrian Jurgen Melzer 6-3, 6-4.

French 15th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga reached the third round as he beat Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, while former top-10 player Mikhail Youzhny crushed Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun 6-1, 6-0.

In women's action, fourth seed Samantha Stosur put out Lucie Safarova 6-0, 7-6 (7-1) while sixth seed Jelena Jankovic defeated Klara Zakopalova 7-5, 6-1.

There was also an opening victory for 16th seed Maria Sharapova, a winner over German Sabine Lisicki 6-2, 6-0.

China's Peng Shuai upset 11th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, hammering the Russian 6-3, 6-1.

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SPORTS - Behind Stricklen, Lady Vols beat Ohio State 85-75 (AP)

SPORTS - Behind Stricklen, Lady Vols beat Ohio State 85-75 (AP)

AP – Tennessee forward Alyssia Brewer, right, shoots against Ohio State center Ashley Adams during the first …

By RUSTY MILLER, AP Sports Writer Rusty Miller, Ap Sports Writer – Sat Mar 26, 5:03 pm ET

DAYTON, Ohio – There are halftime chats and then there are coach's rants. Pat Summitt hasn't won 1,071 games by not knowing when to let her team have it.

Summitt absolutely lit up her Tennessee Lady Vols at the break and their regional semifinal game Saturday tilted soon after. With Shekinna Stricklen scoring 14 of her 20 points in the second half and touching off a critical 11-3 second-half run, Summitt and the Lady Vols moved into their accustomed spot in the Elite Eight with an 85-75 win over Ohio State.

"It was about an 8 1/2," she said, rating her halftime speech on a scale where 10 is when the paint peels off the walls. "I wasn't real happy. But that's what you have to do at times. You go into the locker room and get a feel. One thing about this team, they do respond. Sometimes I think they kind of like to hear the coaches going off."

The Lady Vols (34-2) won their 25th consecutive game, but only took control with their charge in the final minutes.

Meighan Simmons added 18 points and Kelley Cain — inserted into the starting lineup to offset Ohio State's height advantage — had 16 for Tennessee, which is pursuing a ninth NCAA title. The Lady Vols meet Notre Dame, a 78-53 winner over Oklahoma, in the regional championship game on Monday night, with a trip to the Final Four in Indianapolis on the line.

"Coach kind of lit a fire under our butts in the second half," Cain said. "We played better. We were getting up in their grilles, making them play at a different level than they were used to."

Simmons grinned as she said, "Coach went off on us in the locker room."

None of the Lady Vols were really surprised. They had not been aggressive on defense, leading to Ohio State (24-10) shooting 67 percent in the opening half. The Buckeyes led by as many as six before settling for a 42-40 lead at the break.

"We played on our heels a little more in the first half," said Angie Bjorklund, who didn't score but had seven assists.

With the game hanging in the balance and Tennessee on top 58-57, Stricklen twice made big plays to provide some breathing room. First, she hit a deep, deep 3 as the shot clock was draining away. After an Ohio State miss, she took the ball from the right wing and bulled her way along the baseline to power in a layup for a 63-57 lead.

After Brittany Johnson hit one of her four 3s for Ohio State, the Lady Vols ran off six points in a row for their largest lead of the game. Simmons stopped and popped in a shot from 15 feet, Taber Spani made a follow and then Spani drilled a long jumper to make it 69-60.

Ohio State got as close as eight points in the last minute, but Stricklen scored seven in a row for the Lady Vols to hold the Buckeyes at bay.

"Shekinna is the type of player, if you really don't ask her to step up, she can kind of blend in," Summitt said. "But she's a big-time player. She knows she is our go-to player."

The game was played a little over an hour away from Ohio State's campus, but there appeared to be more orange than scarlet and gray in the crowd of 8,813.

By the end, the thousands of Tennessee fans were chanting, "S-E-C! S-E-C!"

Samantha Prahalis had 22 points and seven assists for the Big Ten champions, while Jantel Lavender had 19 points, Johnson 16 and Tayler Hill 12. It was a bad 24 hours for Ohio State, which also had its top-seeded and top-ranked men's team eliminated in the sweet 16 on Friday night by another traditional power, Kentucky.

Everything seemed to be going the Buckeyes' way on Saturday afternoon until Stricklen took over and the Lady Vols amped up their effort.

"For about 33 minutes, we played sound, smart basketball," said Buckeyes coach Jim Foster, making his 25th NCAA appearance in 33 years as a head coach. "For about 7 minutes, we didn't. And that 7 minutes really cost us."

Summitt said mental adjustments were needed at halftime far more than anything she could draw up on a dry-erase board.

"Obviously, our defense had to pick it up. I told them that's where we have to invest with all of our energy," she said. "We did a good job with that. Then our board play got a lot better. I don't know what they were thinking in the first half, but we didn't have the same energy level."

But then Summitt expended some of her own energy at halftime.

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SPORTS - Top tennis seeds Nadal, Wozniacki advance (AFP)

SPORTS - Top tennis seeds Nadal, Wozniacki advance (AFP)

AP – Red Bull Formula One driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany gestures number 1 after qualifying fastest ahead …

By NEIL FRANKLAND, AP Sports Writer Neil Frankland, Ap Sports Writer – Sat Mar 26, 6:10 am ET

MELBOURNE, Australia – World champion Sebastian Vettel will start from pole Sunday in Formula One's season-opening Australian Grand Prix after a dominant performance in qualifying Saturday.

The Red Bull driver had a time of 1 minute, 23.529 seconds, more than three-quarters of a second quicker than nearest rival Lewis Hamilton of McLaren.

"It's a good position to be in. It's the best position, pole position, so I'm very happy with that," Vettel said. "But we need to keep our feet on the ground and see how we get on tomorrow."

Red Bull's Mark Webber will start third in front of his home crowd, with Jenson Button of McLaren fourth as he attempts to win the race for a third straight year.

Hamilton's performance to split the Red Bull cars was an impressive one, and McLaren reaped the reward for making some bold changes to the car after trouble offseason testing.

"It was a very brave and tough decision for us to pull back from what we'd been developing over the winter test," said Hamilton, the 2008 series champion. "And after the last test to come back and decide we were going to go in another direction. Since I've been here, we've never ever done that before."

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso qualified fifth and Mercedes' Michael Schumacher was 11th.

The Red Bull and McLaren cars were consistently fastest after the first Q1 session, switching between the firmer "prime" tires and the "options" to try and feel their way to faster lap combinations.

There may be more surprises for race day after the Red Bull drivers revealed they didn't use the added thrust of their KERS systems at all in qualifying. Neither Vettel or Webber would elaborate on the reason behind the decision.

Schumacher said a failure with his KERS partly explained his disappointing time.

"Clearly that was not an ideal start to the season, and I cannot deny that I am disappointed," he said. "It's not that the KERS only worked intermittently, or that I could probably have made it to Q3, but it is because our performance did not turn out as we expected."

Troubled constructor Hispania became the first team to miss out on the race under the reintroduced 107 percent rule, after both its drivers failed post a time under the cut off mark set at seven percent higher than the fastest time in Q1. With the cut-off time set at 1:31.266, Vitantonio Liuzzi could manage only 1:32.978 and Narain Karthikeyan had 1:34.293. Despite a request from the team pleading exceptional circumstances for the poor times, race stewards decided to enforce the rule and exclude the team from the race.

Renault's Nick Heidfeld, ninth-fastest in final practice earlier in the day, also was eliminated in Q1 and will start from a disappointing 18th.

In Q2, Renault's Rubens Barrichello ruined his chances of qualifying in the top 10 when he touched the grass coming into the third turn, losing control and spinning into the gravel.

Adrian Sutil of Force India also was eliminated, but had a lucky escape when he spun his car 360 degrees coming out of the final turn and narrowly missed a wall before regaining control and continuing his lap.

Renault's Vitaly Petrov put in a strong performance to qualify in sixth place, ahead of Mercedes' Nico Rosberg and Ferrari's Felipe Massa.

Kamui Kobayashi of Sauber and Toro Rosso's Sebastian Buemi also impressed by making it into the Q3 session. Kobayashi will start ninth, and Buemi 10th.

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SPORTS - England cruise past woeful Wales in Euro qualifier (AFP)

SPORTS - England cruise past woeful Wales in Euro qualifier (AFP)

AFP – England's midfielder Frank Lampard celebrates scoring a penalty during their Euro 2012, group G qualifying …

by Rob Woollard Rob Woollard – Sat Mar 26, 9:10 pm ET

LONDON (AFP) – Fabio Capello lavished praise on Jack Wilshere after the teenage midfielder anchored England to a comfortable win over Wales with a performance that belied his tender years.

The Arsenal youngster had played only 52 minutes of international football prior to Saturday's 2-0 win over Wales, a result which put England back on track to qualify for next summer's Euro 2012 finals in Poland and Ukraine.

While goals from Frank Lampard and Darren Bent secured a straightforward three points, it was the assured performance of the 19-year-old Wilshere that left Capello reaching for the superlatives.

"It's incredible, the performance of this player during this season," Capello enthused. "He improved in a short space of time, incredible."

Wilshere has nailed down a regular starting place at Arsenal this season, and impressed during the Gunners Champions League exit to Barcelona.

The youngster now appears to be well on his way to becoming a first choice in England's midfield, where he worked in tandem with Lampard on Saturday in front of Scott Parker in the holding role.

Capello said he had discussed Wilshere's improvement with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, and both coaches were surprised at his rapid development.

"I spoke with Arsene and Arsene told me the same thing -- incredible. He plays like a player of 28, 29 years with 35 or 40 caps," Capello said.

"The good players always improve."

Wilshere meanwhile modestly played down the praise directed his way.

"This is the sort of thing you want to hear. But at my age, I'm only 19, there are still big players like Steven Gerrard to come back," Wilshere said.

"I just have to work hard for my club and see if the manager picks me for internationals."

Capello meanwhile brushed off suggestions that the victory had vindicated his controversial decision to reinstate John Terry as permanent captain at the expense of the injured Rio Ferdinand.

"Why? Against you? It's my job guys. It's normal. It's my job," Capello said. "When you win you are the best, when you lose you are ..."

He also declined the invitation to single out Terry for special praise, instead highlighting the contribution of Aston Villa winger Ashley Young, whose movement and pace was a constant thorn in the side of the Welsh defence.

"All the players played well. But I think some players played very well. Ashley Young played very well. This year he has been a really good player. He played well in Denmark, he played well this evening," Capello said.

Capello was also pleased with the display of Parker, the in-form West Ham midfielder who many felt was unlucky to have been overlooked by the Italian for his World Cup squad last year.

"Scott played very well," Capello said. "The position, he won back a lot of balls, in every moment he was in a good position in front of the back four."

Capello meanwhile played down the significance of the tactical tweak that saw Parker shield the back four with Wilshere and Lampard pushed up behind a front three of Young, Bent and Wayne Rooney.

"I prepared this style for Wales but we can change the style because English players are really good, they can play different styles," Capello said.

"But the real style is 9-1. Because you need to defend and you need to go forward."

The only blemish on an otherwise positive afternoon for Capello was a needless 37th-minute booking for Rooney which rules the striker out of their next qualifier, against Switzerland at Wembley in June.

"I know, I told him he will miss the next game, it's not good news for us," Capello said.

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SPORTS - Butler back in Final Four, beats Florida in OT (AP)

SPORTS - Butler back in Final Four, beats Florida in OT (AP)

AP – Butler's Shelvin Mack (1) shoots past Florida's Chandler Parsons (25) and Florida's Patric Young during …

By BRETT MARTEL, AP Sports Writer Brett Martel, Ap Sports Writer – Sat Mar 26, 9:54 pm ET

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.

Those big wins came after Howard tipped in a winner in the final seconds against Old Dominion.

This game had another frantic finish.

"We just kind of stayed together, stayed the course, figured it out, and just played resiliently," Butler coach Brad Stevens. "I'm incredibly proud of these guys. They carried their coach in a big way. ... Our players did a great job, and (they are) just a special group. We're really lucky that they're Butler Bulldogs."

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. He could not recall what happened to his head, only that it was bleeding when he came to the sideline.

That didn't stop him from draining a crucial 3-pointer with 1:21 left in overtime to give Butler the lead for good at 72-70. He also had enough vigor left during the net-cutting ritual to do a mocking Gator chomp with his arms from atop a ladder.

"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.

Florida had to foul Mack with 10.6 seconds to go, and he hit both shots for the final margin before Erving Walker missed a 3 to tie in the final seconds.

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

Before reaching the round of eight this year, Florida hadn't won an NCAA tournament game since winning its second straight national title in 2007.

The Gators missed the tournament entirely in 2008 and 2009, before returning last year and being knocked out by BYU in the first round.

Florida ended Butler's season twice before in the NCAA tournament, once in 2000 in the first round and again in 2007 in the round of 16.

The Bulldogs hadn't forgotten.

Butler players got motivational text messages from Bulldogs past concerning their latest matchup with the resurgent Gators.

In the locker room after the game, players said they hoped they made the Butler community proud. Judging by video of celebrating fans back in Indianapolis being passed around the locker room on a cell phone, they had.

Last year, Butler was able to play in front of those fans at the Final Four in Indianapolis, where about 30,000 fans attended their open practice.

Now it seems as though the Bulldogs win the crowd wherever they play, although Stevens suspects the support they had at last season's Final Four in their hometown will be hard to top.

"Nothing will be like Indy. Indy was crazy," Stevens said. "If there's 30,000 people (at open practice) they're going to try to be getting whoever else's autographs are there in Houston. It's not going to be for our guys. ... But trust me, we will play anywhere they send us and we are thrilled to go to Houston."

Stevens knows it won't be the same this time.

Vernon Macklin scored a career-high 25 points for Florida, while Boynton finished with 17 points and Tyus had his second-straight double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Butler had to overcome Florida's size advantage and a number of its own mistakes.

In regulation, the Bulldogs made 10 of 20 free throws and shot 39.6 percent (21 of 53), including 8 of 30 from 3-point range. Yet they somehow found a way to survive to overtime, when they hit all seven foul shots and three of their eight field goals.

Remarkably, Butler also outrebounded the Gators, 41-34.

Now the Bulldogs are one win away from a second straight appearance in the national championship game.

"They're tough," said Florida forward Chandler Parsons, who had a disappointing five points on 2 of 9 shooting. "They're physical. They have all the characteristics of a good team. You know, it's not their first time here. They were in this situation last year, so I think their experience helped them and I think they just came up with big plays when the team needed it."

Florida appeared to be taking control when Tyus, the leading scorer and rebounder in Florida's overtime win over BYU, got loose for a pair of soaring dunks, then added two free throws and a driving floater during a 12-1 run that gave the Gators a 51-40 lead with 9:26 left.

Howard's basket inside as he was fouled snapped the run, then seldom-used reserve Chrishawn Hopkins, who'd just set up Howard's score, added a 3 as Butler slowly clawed its way back again, finally tying it at 57 with 3:03 to go on the second of consecutive driving layups by Mack.

Macklin, who'd been limited by foul trouble in the second half — he committed his fourth with 9:02 left — returned to hit a free throw and a layup on a strong move inside to make it 60-57. Mack's free throws cut it to one point and Howard had a chance to give Butler the lead after drawing a foul with 30.7 seconds left.

He missed his second free throw, then Walker missed a long pull-up jumper — his eighth straight miss to that point — forcing overtime.

"Walker was 1 of 10, and he's been such a clutch shooter for us," Donovan said. "When you get into those situations where the game is coming down to the wire like that and it's one-possession games, anything can happen."

Butler initially took a 67-64 lead in the overtime on Ronald Nored's free throws, but Florida came back with a couple of clutch 3s. Boynton's tied it 67, then Walker finally hit his first field goal from 3 to put the Gators up 70-69.

That's when Mack responded with his big 3 that propelled Butler to its latest upset. It helped make up nicely for the Pittsburgh game, when his late foul nearly cost Butler a chance to move on.

"I feel incredibly good for Shelvin," Howard said. "If we would have lost on that play, he still scored 30 points and carried us. You can't fault him and say you lost us the game because he essentially won us the game. The kid's incredible. He really carries us at times. This is the type of player Shelvin is."

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SPORTS - BOA leaders kicked off 2012 board in money dispute (AP)

SPORTS - BOA leaders kicked off 2012 board in money dispute (AP)

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