Nobody expects the Butler Bulldogs to advance all the way to the NCAA championship game, as they did during last spring’s stunning run through March Madness.

But the Bulldogs began this year’s NCAA tournament with another thrilling victory. Matt Howard scored at the buzzer as Butler survived Old Dominion 60-58 in the second round of the NCAA Southeast regional in Washington, D.C.

With the ball flying through the air after Shawn Vanzant was stripped, it appeared overtime might be in the offering between the eighth-seeded Bulldogs and ninth-seeded Monarchs. But Andrew Smith tapped the ball off the backboard, and Howard was in the right place at the right time, putting the ball back in just before time expired.

Howard and Shelvin Mack each scored 15 points lead the Bulldogs, who extended their winning streak to 10 games.

Butler advances to face top-seed Pittsburgh in the third round on Saturday, with a Sweet 16 berth going to the winner.

—30—

The nation’s longest winning streak continued Thursday night. If it continues through 40 more minutes, the Butler Bulldogs will carry that streak home for the Final Four.

The Bulldogs made it 23 wins in a row and knocked out the No. 1 seed in the West Regional, Butler beating Syracuse 63-59 in the latest in a string of lower seeds winning games in this wild NCAA Tournament.

Butler (31-4) moves into the Elite Eight for the first time in school history. A win on Saturday sends Butler to the Final Four next weekend in Indianapolis.

Even though the Bulldogs struggled with their shooting – hitting just 40 percent from the field and only converting 6-of-24 on 3-pointers – Butler hung tough after a 10-point halftime lead evaporated. Syracuse opened the second half on a 15-4 run to take the lead, and still held a 54-50 advantage with 5:23 to go.

But the Bulldogs scored the next 11 points to put this one away.

Gordon Hayward led the Bulldogs with 18 points.

—30—

The shots weren’t falling. Reeling in Murray State wasn’t easy. But when you’ve won 22 games in a row, you tend to find a way.

For the Butler Bulldogs, that way now carries them to the West Regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament. Ronald Nored scored a game-high 15 points, including a three-point play with 25.4 seconds left as the Bulldogs dodge the upset bid and downed Murray State, 54-52.

Butler (30-4) shot just 36 percent from the field but slogged its way back from a halftime deficit. Matt Howard’s free throw with 17.2 seconds left gave the Bulldogs a two-point lead, and Murray State’s last possession ended in a turnover as Butler survived.

Gordon Hayward scored 12 points for Butler. Shelvin Mack added 110 and Willie Veasley contributed 10 points for Butler, who advance to the Sweet 16 for the second time in four years.

—30—