Fairleigh Dickinson upsets high seed Purdue, changing into second 16 seed to beat a No. 1 in March Madness historical past

There’s one thing about New Jersey colleges enjoying Cinderella.

Last 12 months, it was St. Peter’s. 

On Thursday, it was Princeton. 

Now, it’s Grant Singleton and Fairleigh Dickinson.

Fairleigh Dickinson guard Grant Singleton (4) celebrates after a basket towards Purdue within the second half of a first-round recreation within the males’s NCAA Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, March 17, 2023. ( AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

FDU turned the second No. 16 seed to upset a No. 1 in NCAA Tournament historical past, taking down Purdue, 63-58.

No group led by greater than six factors the complete recreation, and regardless of Zach Edey persevering with to be a strolling double-double, the Knights by no means wavered.

Demetre Roberts of the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights reacts to creating a play towards the Purdue Boilermakers throughout the first spherical of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at Nationwide Arena March 17, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio.  (Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos through Getty Images)

After Purdue took a 47-41 lead, FDU went on a 13-3 run to get again up by 4 factors. Purdue minimize it to at least one with a 3-pointer, however nobody scored for over 4 minutes after that.

FDU took a five-point lead with lower than two minutes to go, and its protection continued to clamp down. The Boilermakers did not rating for nearly six minutes till a three-pointer minimize the deficit to 2.

XAVIER TEAMMATES GET INTO ON-COURT SHOUTING MATCH DURING COMEBACK WIN OVER KENNESAW STATE IN NCAA TOURNAMENT

But Sean Moore drilled a 3 from the highest of the perimeter to place FDU up 61-56 with 1:04 to go. Purdue answered with a pair of free throws after which compelled a turnover to get the ball with the shot clock turned off down by three.

After Purdue’s first shot was blocked out of bounds, Fletcher Loyer missed a 3 that was rebounded by the Knights, who had been fouled with 8.1 seconds left. Demetre Roberts made each free throws to place his group again up 5, and it proved to be the dagger.

Grant Singleton of the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights  (Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos through Getty Images)

No. 16 seeds at the moment are 2-150 all time towards No. 1 seeds. 

UMBC beat Virginia, 74-54, within the first spherical of the 2018 event. Virginia additionally fell sufferer because the four-seed on Thursday to No. 13 Furman.