Fairleigh Dickinson stuns top seed Purdue, becoming second 16-seeded to beat a No. 1 in March Madness history
There’s something about schools in New Jersey playing Cinderella.
Last year, it was Saint-Pierre.
Thursday was Princeton.
Now it’s Grant Singleton and Fairleigh Dickinson.
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Fairleigh Dickinson guard Grant Singleton (4) celebrates after a field goal against Purdue in the second half of a first round game at the NCAA Men’s Tournament in Columbus, Ohio on Friday March 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
FDU became the second No. 16 seed to upset an NCAA Tournament No. 1, knocking out Purdue, 63-58.
Neither team trailed by more than six points the entire game, and although Zach Edey continues to be a walking double-double, the Knights never wavered.
Demetre Roberts of the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights reacts while playing against the Purdue Boilermakers in the first round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 17, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio. (Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
After Purdue took a 47-41 lead, FDU went on a 13-3 run to move up four points. Purdue cut it to one with a 3-pointer, but no one scored for more than four minutes after that.
FDU took a five-point lead with less than two minutes remaining, and their defense continued to tighten. The Boilermakers didn’t score for almost six minutes until a three-point shot cut the lead to two.
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But Sean Moore drilled a 3 from the top of the perimeter to put FDU up 61-56 with 1:04 to go. Purdue responded with a pair of free throws, then forced a turnover to win the ball back with the shot clock off by three.
After Purdue’s first shot was blocked out of bounds, Fletcher Loyer missed a 3 that was rebounded by the Knights, who were fouled with 8.1 seconds left. Demetre Roberts made both free throws to put his team back to five, and it turned out to be the dagger.
Grant Singleton of the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
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The No. 16 seeds are now 2-150 all-time against the No. 1 seeds.
UMBC beat Virginia, 74-54, in the first round of the 2018 tournament. Virginia also suffered as a four-seeded Thursday against No. 13 Furman.
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