COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Fairleigh Dickinson grew to become the second No. 16 seed in historical past to win an NCAA Event recreation, gorgeous top-seeded Purdue 63-58 behind 19 factors from Sean Moore and a relentless, hustling protection on Friday night time.
The shortest workforce within the tourney, the Knights (21-15) confirmed no concern in swarming 7-foot-4 All-America middle Zach Edey from the beginning. FDU’s gamers had been faster and extra composed than the Large Ten champion Boilermakers (29-6).
5 years in the past, UMBC confirmed the way in which for the little guys by overwhelming Virginia within the first 16-over-1 victory after quite a few shut calls over time. Nonetheless, No. 16s had a 1-150 file towards No. 1s and had been 1-151 total earlier than FDU’s shocker.
The Knights will now meet Memphis or Florida Atlantic on Sunday for a Candy 16 berth within the East Area and a visit subsequent week to play at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York — only a quick drive from the personal faculty’s campus in Teaneck, New Jersey.
Fairleigh Dickinson didn’t even win the Northeast Convention Event, falling by one level within the title recreation to Merrimack, which couldn’t take part within the NCAA Event due to an NCAA rule that bars it from the postseason as a result of it’s nonetheless finishing its four-year transition from Division II.
FDU held Purdue scoreless for greater than 5 1/2 minutes down the stretch and moved forward by 5 on a 3-pointer by Moore — who's from suburban Columbus — with 1:03 left. The Knights held on from there, changing into the second straight double-digit seed to ship the Boilermakers residence. Purdue was a 3 seed when it misplaced to fifteen seed Saint Peter’s, one other small New Jersey faculty, within the Candy 16 final yr.
Edey completed with 21 level and 15 rebounds in what might have been his last school recreation, however the Knights constantly denied him the ball within the second half. He didn’t try a shot within the last 9 minutes.
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