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Duke do it in 61-59 thriller over Butler

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-07 10:51

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Duke do it in 61-59 thriller over Butler

Duke's Kyle Singler (L) and Butler's Gordon Hayward battle for a rebound in the first half of their NCAA national championship college basketball game against Butler in Indianapolis, Indiana, April 5, 2010. [Agencies]

Nobody figured this would be easy and it wasn't - no way that was going to happen against Butler, the 4,200-student private school that turned the tournament upside down and drove 5.6 miles from its historic home, Hinkle Fieldhouse, to the Final Four.

Butler (33-5) shaved a five-point deficit to one and had a chance to win it when their best player, Hayward, took the ball at the top of the key, spun and worked his way to the baseline but was forced to put up an off-balance fadeaway from 15 feet.

He missed, Zoubek got the rebound and made the first of two free throws. He missed the second one intentionally and Duke's title wasn't secure until Hayward's desperation heave bounded out.

Duke's Lance Thomas (L) and Butler's Shelvin Mack scramble for the ball during their NCAA National Championship college basketball game in Indianapolis, Indiana, April 5, 2010. [Agencies]

What a game to end one of the most memorable tournaments in history, the kind that could be history if the NCAA goes ahead with an expansion to 96 teams - something very much on the table for next year.

"Both teams and all the kids on both teams played their hearts out," Krzyzewski said. "There was never more than a couple, a few points separating, so a lot of kids made big plays for both teams."

Associated press