Mar 19, 2023; Columbus, OH, USA; Fairleigh Dickinson Knights forward Sean Moore (11) looks tot play the ball defended by Florida Atlantic Owls guard Bryan Greenlee (4) in the first half at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2023; Columbus, OH, USA; Fairleigh Dickinson Knights forward Sean Moore (11) looks tot play the ball defended by Florida Atlantic Owls guard Bryan Greenlee (4) in the first half at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY SportsCOLUMBUS, Ohio -- Johnell Davis scored 29 points and hauled in 12 rebounds to help No. 9 Florida Atlantic end the Cinderella run of No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson 78-70 Sunday in their East Region second-round game.
Bryan Greenlee had a key 3-pointer and Davis had two steals, a layup and a dunk in a 55-second span that put the game away late during a 7-0 run.
Alijah Martin added 14 points for Florida Atlantic (33-3), which entered the tournament with just one previous appearance, a loss in the first round in 2002.
Florida Atlantic advances to play No. 4 seed Tennessee on Thursday in one East Regional semifinal at Madison Square Garden in New York. In the other, No. 3 Kansas State will play No. 7 Michigan State, a 69-60 winner over No. 2 Marquette in the first game in Columbus on Sunday.
Fairleigh Dickinson (21-16) shocked Purdue 63-58 on Friday to become just the second No. 16 seed to beat a No. 1 seed. The Knights fell just short in their bid to become the first No. 16 seed to qualify for the round of 16.
Demetre Roberts had 20 points, Sean Moore scored 14 and Joe Munden Jr. added 13 for the Knights.
"Hats off to FDU," said Florida Atlantic coach Dusty May. "They're incredibly hard to prepare for. Such a tough match-up. And their scrappiness and physicality was exceptional. We just made enough plays to win."
Florida Atlantic center Vladislav Goldin said he couldn't describe the feeling of being a Top 16 team.
"We've been watching it on TV every March," he said. " But I don't think we're finished."
FDU coach Tobin Anderson was impressed by Florida Atlantic.
"I thought they played very well. They answered every time we made a run," he said. I didn't think we played great the first half, didn't play FDU basketball.
Then the second half we played really well. I couldn't be more proud of a basketball team and a bunch of guys.
"We always talk about 6-0 runs. We were one 6-0 run away from Sweet 16. We went toe to toe with a top-five team in the country (Purdue) and this team (Florida Atlantic) is a Top 25 team in the country. We went toe to toe the last few days with two great teams and didn't back down, didn't go away."
Roberts looked back at an historic season.
"We started July 5th, getting to know the new players, new culture, new coaches for the players who stayed from last year. We were picked last in every poll.
"We overcame a lot of things. Everybody improved this year from me to everybody else. Joe Munden improved. Ansley Almonor improved. Sean Moore improved. Everybody, from one through 15 improved."
Florida Atlantic was not in awe of giant slayer Fairleigh Dickinson in the opening moments. Behind seven points from Martin, the Owls came out and scored the first nine points, before the Knights finally answered with a straightaway 3-pointer from Grant Singleton four minutes into the game.
While both teams struggled from long range, the Owls claimed a 32-25 halftime lead on the strength of a 20-10 advantage in the paint.
But an 8-0 run in the opening 100 seconds of the second half ignited the heavily partisan Fairleigh Dickinson crowd. Back-to-back treys from Moore and Munden put the Knights up 33-32.
With them feeding off the adrenaline of the crowd, the Knights built leads of 40-36 and 49-44. Roberts was the spark during a furious run, drilling a crossover 3-pointer and a crossover reverse layup that brought the crowd to a roar.
Down 54-51, the Owls answered with a 12-2 run that featured six points from Davis, as Florida Atlantic took the lead for good.
--By Mike Petraglia, Field Level Media
Originally published on fieldlevelmedia.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens is setting the bar high for the upcoming season following a successful rookie campaign.
As quarterback Derek Carr gets to work learning a new offense with the New Orleans Saints, he has had a bit of his old team -- the Las Vegas Raiders -- with him.
Former NFL star Colin Kaepernick claims he has not seen very little progress since he last played in the NFL. In an interview with Juana Summers on NPR, Kaepernick was asked whether he thought the NFL had changed for the better. Kaepernick responded that he hasn’t “seen any substantial change”. Kaepernick made headlines in 2016 when protested against racism by taking a knee during the national anthem. This act pushed him to the forefront of the already prominent Black Lives Matter social movement. Kaepernick used his platform to express his political views and accused NFL owners of blackballing him because of it. "I think there is a lot of work to do on that front. Obviously, not playing and being out of the NFL for six years is an indictment on where they are currently at. So I wouldn't put them at the forefront of goodwill and best of intentions in how they operate", Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick has not played in the NFL since the controversy in 2016.
The Denver Broncos may be "installing an entirely new offense," but so far new coach Sean Payton is pleased with the centerpiece of that offense.
Isaac Wilson, a four-star quarterback prospect in the Class of 2024 and the brother of New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson, committed to Utah on Wednesday night.
New York Giants coach Brian Daboll attempted to get ahead of the game on Thursday when addressing reporters about the status of running back Saquon Barkley.
Report: Bill Belichick fined $50K for offseason violations
Report: Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo had foot surgery in March
The Jacksonville Jaguars signed Brandon McManus on Thursday and waived fellow kicker Riley Patterson.
Report: Mike Bohn left Cincy for USC amid misconduct probe
Less than three years after receiving the richest contract in NFL history, Patrick Mahomes now ranks seventh in average pay among quarterbacks.
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Mike Thomas might require surgery after separating his shoulder during organized team activities on Wednesday, coach John Harbaugh said.
Punter Matt Araiza will work out with the New York Jets on Wednesday, ESPN reported, citing Araiza's agent.
New Orleans Saints tight end Foster Moreau participated in the first day of organized team activities on Tuesday, roughly two months after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Adrian Peterson: 'Mentally ... haven't officially hung it up'
Bucs tee up QB change in OTAs, adapting to Baker Mayfield
Jets QB Aaron Rodgers sits with pre-practice calf injury
Bills S Damar Hamlin participates in on-field workouts
Dallas Cowboys All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons was on the field for Tuesday's organized team activities at Frisco, Texas.
NFL owners approved a new rule Tuesday that will spot the ball at the 25-yard line as a result of fair catches and touchbacks coming on kickoffs.
Three-time Super Bowl champion Devin McCourty joined NBC Sports' Sunday night pregame show, "Football Night in America," as a studio analyst, the network announced Tuesday morning.
Reports: Chargers' Austin Ekeler gets incentives added to deal
Baltimore Ravens quarterback and newly minted highest-paid player in NFL history Lamar Jackson missed the first day of OTAs on Monday, but he is expected to report this week.
NFL owners approve flex scheduling for 'TNF' games
Super Bowl LX officially awarded to San Francisco Bay Area
Green Bay Packers selected to host 2025 NFL Draft
NFL owners on Monday approved a bylaw that will allow teams to carry a third quarterback on gamedays as their 47th player on the active roster.
Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins skipping OTAs, future TBD
Report: Tom Brady finalizes deal for minority stake in Raiders
Ben Roethlisberger quarterbacked the Pittsburgh Steelers for 18 seasons and to two Super Bowl championships.
And he admitted it was hard seeing someone else under center last season, his first post-retirement.
Schemy Schembechler issues apology for 'flippant' behavior
Reports: Commanders cleared in Andrew Luck tampering case
Browns legendary running back Jim Brown dies at 87
Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson is ready to return to offseason activities three months removed from surgery to repair a torn adductor.
Labor board issues complaint against USC, Pac-12, NCAA
NFL owners will not vote on the sale of the Washington Commanders when they meet next week in Minneapolis.
Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan said Thursday that the team is finalizing a contract extension with primary backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky.
Quarterback Cutter Boley, a four-star prospect at Lexington Christian Academy, is staying home to play at Kentucky.
Cowboys not sweating Micah Parsons' absence, position
Panthers OC Thomas Brown already awed by Bryce Young
Browns complete deal to acquire DE Za'Darius Smith from Vikings
Saints TE Foster Moreau set for OTAs after cancer diagnosis
Top 2024 recruit QB Dylan Raiola commits to Georgia
Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
