Florida Atlantic Owls beat Fairleigh Dickinson Knights 78-70 in the East Region of the NCAA tournament. Alijah Martin contributed 14 points, while Johnell Davis scored 29 points and added 12 rebounds, five assists, and five steals to lead the Owls. FDU failed to become the first No. 16 to win the tournament twice, and the Owls will carry a nine-game winning streak into their matchup against the Volunteers. The post-game handshake was tense between the coaches of the two teams due to Owls’ behavior. FDU and FAU share similar playing styles, and their fan bases also have a commonality. FDU, the smallest team in the nation, became the greatest story of the tournament, and Anderson and his assistant coaches have already heard from players interested in joining them in Teaneck, New Jersey.
Florida Atlantic Halts Fairleigh Dickinson’s NCAA Tournament Run for Sweet 16
Florida Atlantic Owls took down Fairleigh Dickinson Knights in the East Region of the NCAA tournament on Sunday night. Ninth-seeded Owls (33-3) beat underdog Knights (21-16) by 78-70, ending FDU’s magical march in the tournament. Alijah Martin contributed 14 points, while Johnell Davis scored 29 points and added 12 rebounds, five assists, and five steals to lead the Owls.
FDU won against 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey and top-seeded Purdue, becoming the second 16-on-1 upset in men’s tournament history. Demetre Roberts had 20 points, and Sean Moore had 14 for FDU. Tobin Anderson, the FDU coach, appreciated the team’s effort, saying, “We’ve gone toe-to-toe with a top-five team in the country, and this team is a top-25 team in the country.”
The Owls will now play Tennessee in Thursday’s Sweet 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York. FAU defeated Memphis on Friday for the school’s first NCAA tournament win. FAU needed to play at a high speed and take control in the late second half to secure the win.
This was the first time the Knights played in the NCAA tournament, and despite not winning the Northeast Conference tournament, they fought their way to make history. After the game, FDU players thanked their fans and coach Anderson, who followed FDU from a Division II school.
Read also: New Jersey’s Fairleigh Dickinson University upset top-seeker Purdue in NCAA tournament.
FAU outmatched FDU in the game, and Davis, the star player, believed in the team, saying, “It’s just a dream come true.” FDU, who was the smallest team in the nation, was still in the game, and Roberts had a chance to tie the game, but he missed a layup, and FDU’s tournament run ended. Despite this, the Knights’ fans, who spent five days in Ohio, will not forget their team’s historical run in the NCAA tournament.
FAU’s Behavior Disrupts Tense Post-game Handshake with FDU After Winning the Game
Florida Atlantic Owls defeated Fairleigh Dickinson Knights in the NCAA tournament, but the post-game handshake was tense due to the Owls’ behavior. FDU’s coach Tobin Anderson, who filmed a program that went 4-22 a year ago, told his players not to foul and not to let the last few seconds pass. But FAU’s Alijah Martin attempted a 360-degree dunk, leading to an awkward exchange and tension in the post-game handshake between Anderson and Owls coach Dusty May.
May apologized for Martin’s behavior, but he also reminded Anderson that they are the adults and need to correct this behavior. FDU failed to become the first No. 16 to win the tournament twice. Similarly, UMBC failed five years ago when they shocked defending champion Virginia and then lost to Kansas State in the second round.
FDU and FAU share similar playing styles, and their fan bases also have a commonality. FDU assistant coach Tom Bonacum motivated his players during the morning shooting by telling them he overheard a group of FAU players in the hallway saying the Knights looked ready to go home. Anderson used this motivation to inspire his team during the shootaround.
The Owls will carry a nine-game winning streak into their matchup against the Volunteers. FAU has some experience against SEC schools this season, losing at Ole Miss and winning at Florida. FDU, the smallest team in the nation, became the greatest story of the tournament, and Anderson and his assistant coaches have already heard from players interested in joining them in Teaneck, New Jersey.
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