Fairleigh Dickinson’s epic upset over ‘Purdon’t’ sets basketball world ablaze

Fairleigh Dickinson guard Demetre Roberts (2) celebrates in the second half of a first-round college basketball game against Purdue in the men's NCAA Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, Friday, March 17, 2023. (Michael Conroy/AP)

It took just two days for all brackets to be busted.

For just the second time in NCAA men’s basketball tournament history, a No. 16 seed knocked off a No. 1 seed as Fairleigh Dickinson shocked Purdue with a 63-58 win on Friday.

Led by Sean Moore and his team-high 19 points, the Knights held off Toronto’s Zach Edey and the Boilermakers in an all-time March upset.

The stage was set for Farleigh Dickinson’s win when first-year head coach Tobin Anderson told his team “The more I watch Purdue, the more I think we can beat them,” in the locker room after the New Jersey school’s play-in round win on Wednesday.

In any other year, the Knights wouldn’t have even made the tournament. The Northeast Conference tournament champion, Merrimack is in the process of transitioning to Division I and was therefore unable to compete in March Madness, meaning that the runner-up — Farleigh Dickinson — earned the conference bid.

Once the final horn sounded, fans from across the sports world weighed in on the “David vs. Goliath” moment.

Here are some of the best reactions from across the Twitterverse:

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