Florida Atlantic pierces bucket with 2.5 seconds to advance in March Madness over Memphis
The madness keeps coming in March.
Nicholas Boyd hit the game-winning layup with 2.5 seconds left to send No. 9 Florida Atlantic into the second round of the NCAA Tournament against No. 8 Memphis with a 66-65 victory.
It was FAU’s first victory in the history of the tournament.
Memphis led 65-64 with less than 30 seconds left, and after FAU missed a layup, they had the chance to milk the clock forcing the Owls into a foul.
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Florida Atlantic guard Nicholas Boyd (2) celebrates after beating Memphis 66-65 in a first-round college basketball game at the NCAA Men’s Tournament in Columbus, Ohio on Friday March 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Unfortunately they turned the ball over, the possession arrow pointed towards FAU after a draw and Boyd ended up in the winning bucket.
This rapprochement, however, did not come without controversy. FAU returned the ball beforehand, and it looked like Memphis may have regained possession to call a timeout, but the referees didn’t call it as such.
Instead of it being the Tigers ball allowing them to foul and head for the line, it gave the FAU ball a chance to sink the winning bucket, and they did.
Outside of the timeouts, Memphis attempted a long three-point shot, but they failed to land it in time and it was blocked.
Boyd was just 3-for-10 from the floor, but the last was the most important of them all.
Florida Atlantic players celebrate their 66-65 win over the Memphis Tigers after a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament Friday, March 17, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
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Four Owls had double-digit points, with Giancarlo Rosado’s 15 off the bench leading.
FAU’s biggest lead of the night was as much as 10 points, which leaves them confident they can advance. Memphis’ biggest lead was seven.
Florida Atlantic guard Nicholas Boyd (2) hits the game-winning basket against the Memphis Tigers in the second half of a first-round college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament Friday March 17, 2023 in Columbus, Ohio. Florida Atlantic won 66-65. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
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FAU will now face No. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson after the Knights became the second 16-seeded in tournament history to upset a No. 1 seed with their 63-58 win over top-seeded Purdue.
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