Fairleigh Dickinson stuns by beating Purdue: NPR

Fairley Dickinson defenseman Grant Singleton, heart, celebrates after scoring a purpose towards Purdue within the second half of the primary spherical of the boys’s basketball sport on the Males’s NCAA Match in Columbus, Ohio on Friday. FDU was victorious forward of Purdue College in first place.

Michael Conroy/AP

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Michael Conroy/AP

Fairley Dickinson defenseman Grant Singleton, heart, celebrates after scoring a purpose towards Purdue within the second half of the primary spherical of the boys’s basketball sport on the Males’s NCAA Match in Columbus, Ohio on Friday. FDU was victorious forward of Purdue College in first place.

Michael Conroy/AP

COLUMBUS, Ohio. Fairleigh Dickinson grew to become the second No. 16 seed in historical past to win an NCAA Match sport, beautiful Purdue with a finest report of 63-58 after 19 factors from Sean Moore and a relentless, fussy protection Friday evening.

The shortest group within the event, the Knights (21–15), confirmed no worry of the gang from the beginning, 7ft 4m All-American heart Zach Edie. The FDU gamers had been sooner and calmer than the Massive Ten champion Boilermakers (29-6).

5 years in the past, UMBC confirmed the way in which for the little guys by beating Virginia of their first 16-1 win after quite a few shut matches over time. Nevertheless, #16 had a 1-150 report towards #1 and was 1-151 total earlier than the FDU shocker.

After the ultimate siren, FDU gamers crowded onto the Nationwide Enviornment flooring, the place followers from Memphis and Florida Atlantic joined forces to help the Knights within the remaining minutes.

Fairley Dickinson did not even win the Northeastern Convention event, shedding by one level within the title sport to Merrimack, who was unable to compete within the NCAA Match as a consequence of an NCAA rule that bans him from the postseason as a result of he’s nonetheless finishing his four-year transition from Division II.

FDU saved Purdue scoreless for over 5.5 minutes within the stretch and superior 5 factors due to a 3-pointer from suburban Columbus Moore with 1:03 left. From that time on, the Knights held on, changing into the second double-figure seed in a row to ship the Boilermakers dwelling. Purdue had 3 seeds when it misplaced to St. Peters, one other 15-seeded small college in New Jersey, within the Candy 16 final yr.

Edie completed with 21 factors and 15 rebounds in what could have been his final faculty sport, however the Knights constantly denied him a go. He did not attempt to stop within the final 9 minutes. The junior heart is a doable NBA lottery decide, however the bitterness of this loss might immediate him to remain for one more yr.

The Knights’ two earlier NCAA Match victories got here within the prime 4, together with this yr after they beat South Texas 84–61. After that sport, Knights coach Tobin Anderson advised his gamers that he thought they may deal with Edie & Co.

“The extra I see Purdue, the extra I believe we are able to beat them,” Anderson advised his gamers within the locker room.

Among the Purdue gamers stated they felt disrespectful to the feedback, which turned out to be prophetic.

The Knights will now face the winner of the Memphis-Florida Atlantic on Sunday to safe a seat within the Candy 16 and head to Madison Sq. Backyard in New York subsequent week – only a brief drive from the non-public college campus in Teaneck. , New Jersey.