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.
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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 seed out of 16 to defeat a No. 1 in the NCAA Tournament, defeating Purdue, 63-58.
Neither team led by more than six points all the way, 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 went 47-41, FDU went on a 13-3 run to rally by four points. Purdue cut it to one with a 3-pointer, but no one scored for the next four minutes.
FDU knocked ended up taking a five-point lead with less than two minutes to go, and their defense continued to tighten, as the Boilermakers went scoreless for nearly six straight minutes until a three-pointer cut the deficit to two.
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But Sean Moore has ice in his veins. He drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the perimeter to go 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 on the shot clock at three.
After his 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 go up five again, and it turned out to be the dagger.
Grant Singleton of the Knights of Fairleigh Dickinson (Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
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The No. 16 seeds are now 2-150 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.