Chance at NIT title lost by Gonzaga men's basketball

NEW YORK — Friday night was supposed to be Gonzaga's night to star on Broadway.

Oh sure, we all know the Zags have built their reputation by playing giant-killer time and again in the NCAA tournament the past several seasons, making it as far as the Sweet 16 on three occasions.

But earning a title at Madison Square Garden would certainly open some eyes nationally for Gonzaga, particularly after the semifinal victory Wednesday night over No. 2 North Carolina.

Butler didn't get the playbill. The little school from Indianapolis, which posted improbable victories over Notre Dame, Indiana and Tennessee to reach the NIT Season Tip-Off title game Friday night, got its Cinderella finish with a 79-71 victory over comparatively gigantic Gonzaga.

The Bulldogs rode the hot shooting of A.J. Graves (26 points) and Mike Green (16) to build second-half leads as large as 18 points, then held off a late charge.

Butler, with an enrollment of 4,200 and whose home court, Hinkle Fieldhouse, was the setting for the final game in the classic basketball movie "Hoosiers," was the least likely of the four semifinalists to be crowned champion. After all, two nationally ranked teams were among the foursome, and Gonzaga has plenty of big-game experience. But Graves was not surprised. It was just another day at the office for him and his Bulldogs.

"We didn't know we were going to be here in New York (when the NIT began)," Graves said. "We don't like to look too far ahead. But it just so happened that we got on a roll so it was like, 'We're here in New York, so we might as well take care of business while we're here.' "

For Butler (6-0), it was just its second game at the Garden, and the first since a 1959 victory over Fordham.

"Every game that we played we have had tremendous respect for our opponent, and when you do that, you prepare well and you stay very in tune," Butler coach Todd Lickliter said. "We'd like to always do that, but when you're playing Notre Dame, Indiana, Tennessee and Gonzaga, it's pretty imperative that you concentrate and try to execute and do all the little things."

Butler excelled at doing the little things that allow "mid-major" programs to compete, and beat, teams from the power conferences.

The Bulldogs went 23 for 26 from the free throw line, including 16 for 18 over the final 3 ½ minutes, committed seven turnovers and allowed more than 70 points for the first time in the four-game tournament, 42 in the second half.

"Butler outplayed us in any facet, and every facet that I can possibly think of involved basketball," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said.

Butler did not make a field goal over the final eight minutes as Gonzaga (5-1) cut an 18-point deficit down to six.

"We didn't get too excited when we beat IU. We enjoyed the night and moved on, and we'll do the same tonight," Graves said. "We've got games ahead of us. We've got the whole season ahead of us, and we've just got to keep moving forward."

Gonzaga was able to close to seven points five times and six once, 77-71 with 14 seconds left, but Butler just kept making free throws.

"We'll score, we don't care how we score," Lickliter said. "If we score at the line, that's fine with us. We don't care. I thought we shot a few threes down the stretch that were a little bit frightening, but that's who we are I guess. They were open. I hate to tell guys who can make them not to shoot them."

Derek Raivio had 20 points and Josh Heytvelt finished with 16 points and eight rebounds for Gonzaga.

"Two fouls took me out of the game at the beginning but it didn't change my mind-set at all," Heytvelt said. "Butler did a great job on defense and offense, how they executed. I don't think those two fouls really affected the game. Butler just came out firing and they beat us."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.