Junior guard Shelvin Mack has scored a game-best 13 points to help the No. 8-seeded Bulter Bulldogs take a 34-28 halftime lead in a NCAA Tournament Final Four contest at Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX. The winner will advance to play either No. 3 UConn Huskies or No. 4 Kentucky Wildcats, who play each other in the nightcap.
Behind four 3-pointers the Rams (28-11) jumped out to a quick 15-7 advantage. The Bulldogs (27-9) slowly chipped away at the margin and tied the game at 20 after Shawn Vanzant made a 2-point jumper with 6:12 remaining. From there, senior Matt Howard scored five of his nine points to guide the Bulldogs to a six-point lead heading into the locker room. Butler has shot 10-of-29 (34.5 percent), but just 3-of-12 from behind the 3-point line.
Senior forward Jamie Skeen has netted a team-best 12 points for VCU, which shot 11-of-27 (40.7), but was outrebounded 19-14. Junior guard Bradford Burgess has chipped in with nine points.
The Butler basketball program is trying to reach the National Championship game for the second consecutive season. Last year, the Bulldogs lost to Duke, 61-59, in their native city of Indianapolis, IN. Meanwhile, VCU basketball program is trying to become the first 11 seed to play for a National Title since the 1985 Villanova Wildcats.