WASHINGTON — Matt Howard scored on a tip-in at the buzzer, giving No. 8 seed Butler a 60-58 victory over Old Dominion on Thursday in the second round of the Southeast Regional.
Howard was on the left side of the basket after Shawn Vanzant missed from the right side. Howard went up with his right hand and put the ball in an instant before time expired.
A year ago, Butler's magical run to the NCAA championship game ended with a narrow miss at the buzzer against Duke. In this game, the Bulldogs got the bounce they needed.
Howard and Shelvin Mack each scored 15 points for Butler (24-9), which will next play the winner of Thursday's Pittsburgh-UNC Asheville game.
Frank Hassell led Old Dominion (27-7) with 20 points. The defeat ended the Monarchs' nine-game winning streak.
The game featured 21 lead changes, and neither team led by more than six points.