CNN
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Fairleigh Dickinson College did one thing on Friday that has solely been performed as soon as earlier than.
The Knights, who’re a 16-seed, upset No. 1 Purdue College 63-58 to advance to the second spherical of the NCAA males’s basketball event.
Down three factors with lower than ten seconds left, Purdue heaved up a three-point shot however missed the chance to tie. The Knights then made two free throws on the reverse finish.
That is the second time in NCAA males’s event historical past {that a} No. 16 seed defeated a No. 1 seed. In 2018, the College of Maryland-Baltimore County grew to become the primary to finish the feat over the Virginia Cavaliers.
Knights head coach Tobin Anderson was speechless on the court docket following the win.
“We simply think about what we do and our guys are so powerful and aggressive,” Anderson informed the TNT broadcast. “I really like our guys. They’re powerful. They’re nice. They performed their tails off. That’s an unbelievable win. It’s unbelievable. We shocked the world.”
FDU gamers celebrated the historic feat collectively on the court docket. Purdue gamers and followers at Nationwide Area in Columbus, Ohio, regarded on in full shock.
Boilermakers massive man Zach Edey, who was earlier named one of many semifinalists for the Naismith Participant of the Yr, completed with 21 factors and 15 rebounds within the loss.
The Knights made the event this 12 months after a turnaround season wherein they completed with a 20-15 document. Final season, FDU completed with a measly 4-22 document.
The 15-win improve over final season was the second-best enchancment in Division I males’s basketball, following Southern Mississippi.
The Knights are the second Northeast Convention college ever to advance to the second spherical in NCAA event historical past. Iona did it in 1980 – however the college’s victory was later vacated.
FDU will subsequent play Sunday, going through the winner of the sport between Memphis and Florida Atlantic.