HOUSTON — Thrill rides often come without dependable brakes. Just when you’re cruising, the wind in your hair, buzzing around all those exhilarating hairpin corners, heart pounding, it careens off course.
The thing about special drives like that is the painful finality of things when emotions crash headlong into the guardrail.
San Diego State junior guard Lamont Butler grabbed the wheel before that could happen, impossibly snatching it at the last second, correcting course. His last-second jump shot for the ages and ageless — a deft dagger as the game clock expired — stunned Florida Atlantic, stunned NRG Stadium, stunned millions on TV and stunned all who are stun-able Saturday in an unforgettable 72-71 win that propelled the Aztecs into Monday’s national championship game.
