By By Austin Bishop/EMG regional sports director
March 22, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. The Butler did it.
Brandon Miller hit a running eight-footer with 6.2 seconds to give Butler University a shocking 47-46 win over Mississippi State in the first round of the NCAA East Regional here at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center on Friday night.
Mississippi State opted not to take a time out after Miller's basket and pushed the ball down the floor. Timmy Bowers saw his three-point attempt bounce off the rim as the buzzer sounded, giving Butler the win.
The win pushes Butler into Sunday's second round game against Louisville an 86-64 winner over Austin Peay in the night session's first game at 1:20 p.m.
Butler never led by more than nine in the game (12-3) and Mississippi State was never ahead by more than four.
It did appear on several occasions in the second half that the MSU Bulldogs were about to take control of the game.
State was up 42-38 with 8:15 left in the game and had the ball, but couldn't get any points out of the trip.
BU of the Horizon League, now 26-5 on the season, took the lead at 45-44 on a three-pointer by Mike Morserez with 1:44 left.
Mississippi State, ranked No. 20 in the nation, came back down the floor and took a 46-45 lead just over 10 seconds later on a pair of free throws by Ontario Harper.
MSU, which ends its season at 21-10, had the ball with less than a minute left and a one-point lead. The Bulldogs ran the clock down, with senior forward Michal Ignerski taking a 15-foot just before the shot clock expired. The shot missed and Butler had control of the ball with 26 seconds to play.
Ignerski, who has been a solid player throughout his career for the Bulldogs, had an off night, being held scoreless for the first time this season and missing all six of his shots.
BU then ran the clock down with Miller making the winning shot 20 seconds later.
Miller finished the night with 14 points, 10 of which came in the first half.
Stansbury said his Bulldogs never intended to take a time out if Butler got ahead with less than 10 seconds to play.
we will take Timmy Bowers with a wide-open three any time."
Duane Lightfoot scored 13 points for Butler, while claiming a team-high
seven rebounds.
Junior post player Mario Austin led State with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
The former Sumter County High School standout was 8-for-12 from the field.
Bowers and Winsome Frazier had nine points each.
The loss was the first time MSU has lost a first round NCAA game since
falling to Eastern Michigan 76-56 in 1991.