Friday, March 17, 2023 **HAPPY ST. PATTY’S DAY**
FDU 2ND 16 SEED TO BEAT 1 SEED; WEST IS CHALK
Samurai Jack leads going 27-5 as 16 lose Purdue as champ
HOME, CA (smt) – #16E-Fairleigh Dickinson, who didn’t win the regular season or tournament in the NEC, rode their First Four win momentum to down #1E-Purdue, 63-58, becoming the second #16 seed to beat a #1 seed. FDU only made the tournament because NEC champion Merrimack (who beat FDU in final) is still ineligible due to D-II to D-I transition. And yet, with one three-point dagger to put FDU up by 5 with a minute left, FDU (never better than a 15 seed) now has 3 tournament wins (2 in First Four), which is three more than mid-major Boise St. Purdue had big droughts losing a 47-41 lead to fall behind 49-47 and then going over 5:40 without scoring as FDU increased their 54-53 lead to 58-53. Purdue has now lost to a #16, a #15 (St. Peter’s last year in Sweet 16), and a #13 seed (North Texas in 1st Round) the past three years. In their last 10 tourneys, Purdue has lost to a double-digit seed five times (all as a 5 seed or better).
It’ll be FDU vs FAU as #9E-Florida Atlantic won their 32nd game (same as Houston) getting a generous jump ball (while two #8E-Memphis players tried to call time out) with 5.5 seconds left and converting a lay in to win 66-65. #14MW-Kennesaw St led 61-48 with 9:56 left but #3MW-Xavier ended the game on a 24-6 run to advance. #11W-Arizona St hit a tying 3 but #6W-TCU got a lay in with 1.5 seconds left to win 72-70. #5MW-Miami (Florida) ended their game on a 16-1 run to win by 7 over #12MW-Drake.
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