Credit: AP Photo/Michael ConroyThe scrappy North Jersey team that pulled off what may be the greatest upset in NCAA tournament history came up short Sunday.
The Fairleigh Dickinson Knights lost in the second round to Florida Atlantic University, 78-70.
FDU trailed the entire first half. Spurred by a crowd that rallied behind the 16th seed, FDU went on an 8-0 run to open the second half and lead for the first time. The Knights kept it close through the half, but the offense went cold at times and was not able to hold off Florida Atlantic.
Players knew Sunday’s game would be tough.
“It’s going to be hard. We beat the number one team in the country,” said junior forward Sean Moore during a news conference Saturday. “We just have to put that game behind us, get back to business. There’s still business to be done.”
New Jersey’s other team in the men’s tournament, Princeton University the 15th seed in the East region, upset Missouri on Saturday by a score of 76-63 to advance to the Sweet 16 round. The Tigers will play Creighton University on Friday in Louisville.
More from Columbus:
New Jersey turns its eyes towards Princeton as its lone NCAA Tournament hope.
FDU ends its season on a down note, but it's impossible to overlook what they achieved over the last few days. A historic season for a program that never previously reached the #NCAA Round of 32.
— Ted Goldberg (@TedGoldbergTV) March 20, 2023
Tired: using your own pep band to play pregame
Wired: borrowing the @DaytonFlyers pep band to play your music pregame
FDU is working smarter, not harder.
In all seriousness, kudos @FlyerPepBand @NJSpotlightNews pic.twitter.com/Z5VQrIA8RV
— Ted Goldberg (@TedGoldbergTV) March 20, 2023
Choose your fighter, @FDUKnightsMBB t-shirt edition:
Bonus points to David Bookbinder (FDU '82) and Rob McKinley (FDU '81) for these handmade threads they put together this morning @NJSpotlightNews pic.twitter.com/uTC9oAlJaW
— Ted Goldberg (@TedGoldbergTV) March 19, 2023
