There’s something about New Jersey schools playing Cinderella.
Last year, it was San Pedro.
On Thursday, it was Princeton.
Now, they are Grant Singleton and Fairleigh Dickinson.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Fairleigh Dickinson guard Grant Singleton (4) celebrates after a basket 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 defeat a No. 1 in NCAA Tournament history, defeating Purdue, 63-58.
Neither team led by more than six points in the entire game, and despite Zach Edey continuing to be a walking double-double, the Knights never wavered.
Demeter Roberts of the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights reacts while making a play against the Purdue Boilermakers during 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 make up four points. Purdue cut it to one with a 3-pointer, but neither team scored for the next four minutes.
FDU took a five-point lead with less than two minutes to go, and their defense continued to clamp down. The Boilermakers didn’t score for nearly six minutes until a three-pointer cut the deficit to two.
XAVIER’S TEAMMATES ENGAGE ON THE COURT DURING COMEBACK WIN OVER KENNESAW STATE IN NCAA TOURNAMENT
But Sean Moore drilled a 3-pointer 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 and then forced a turnover to get the ball with the shot clock off by three.
After Purdue’s first shot was blocked out of bounds, Fletcher Loyer missed a 3-pointer that was rebounded by the Knights, who were fouled with 8.1 seconds remaining. Demetre Roberts made both free throws to get his team back to five, and it turned out to be the dagger.
«I love our guys. They’re tough, they’re brave, they played until they were exhausted. That’s an incredible win. We did an incredible thing. We shocked the world,» head coach Tobin Anderson said. said after the game.
Moore led the Knights with 19 points, while Roberts added 12.
Grant Singleton of the Knights of Fairleigh Dickinson (Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The No. 16 seeds are now 2-150 all-time against the No. 1 seeds.
UMBC defeated Virginia, 74-54, in the first round of the 2018 tournament. Virginia also fell victim as the fourth seed Thursday to No. 13 Furman.