Butler rallies to upset No. 1 Syracuse

DOUG ALDEN
Posted: 03/25/2010 10:55:54 PM EDT

Thursday March 25, 2010
SALT LAKE CITY -- Willie Veasley scored five of his 13 points during Butler’s 11-0 run down the stretch, and the Bulldogs rallied to upset top-seeded Syracuse 63-59 on Thursday night in the West Regional semifinals.

The fifth-seeded Bulldogs (31-4) fought through Syracuse’s zone defense and kept the Orange (30-5) from getting their fast break going most of the night.

Butler is now one win from going home to Indianapolis for the school’s first Final Four.

Gordon Hayward scored 17 points for Butler and started the celebration while dribbling out the clock after the Bulldogs forced Syracuse into its 18th turnover.

Wes Johnson had 17 points and nine rebounds for Syracuse.

West Virginia 69, Washington 56

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) -- Kevin Jones scored 18 points in leading second-seeded West Virginia to a 69-56 win over Washington on Thursday night in the East Regional semifinals.

Da’Sean Butler shook off a sore right hand that he hurt in the second half to score 14 points for the Mountaineers (30-6), who won their ninth straight game and set a school record for victories.