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Coach Dusty May and his Florida Atlantic University team claimed a 78-70 second-round win to end No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson's dream run in the 2023 NCAA Tournament. May was exceptional in motivating his players and keeping them focused during this close game.
May has been FAU's head coach since 2018. He was an assistant for three years before that. May started his college coaching career in 2005, being an assistant at Eastern Michigan, Murray State, UAB and Lousiana Tech before landing at Florida Atlantic in 2015.
Dusty May has led FAU to new heights this season, helping the team to a Conference USA-best 18-2 record. The Owls went unbeaten at home (17-0).
Florida Atlantic is making only its second NCAA Tournament appearance in university history. Its previous appearance came during the 2002 season when it entered the tournament as a No. 15 seed and got knocked out in the first round against then-No. 2 seed Alabama.
FAU entered the 2023 NCAA Tournament as the No. 9 seed in the East region.
Dusty May and Florida Atlantic University end FDU's run
Dusty May and his players faced a team riding high on confidence as Fairleigh Dickson came off a 63-58 win in the first round over No. 1 seed Purdue. The Knights were just the second No. 16 seed in tournament history to topple a No. 1 seed.
Despite trailing by five points in the second half, Florida Atlantic stayed in the hunt for its ninth straight win. FDU gave FAU a run for its money until late in the second half when May's team went on a 7-0 run after FDU cut its lead down to 67-64, taking a 10-point advantage with only 1:25 left in the game.
FDU cut that advantage to 76-70. However, it only had 29 seconds left to erase that deficit. Coach May ensured his team sealed the win after Johnell Davis made two free throws with 19 seconds left.
Davis bagged a game-high 29 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and five steals, shooting 10 of 16. Meanwhile, Demetre Roberts produced 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists for Fairleigh Dickinson.
Florida Atlantic University (33-3), a No. 9 seed, will face No. 4 seed Tennessee (25-10) in its maiden Sweet 16 appearance at this year's NCAA Tournament. The Owls should have all the momentum in the world, having won their past nine games.
