Dancing in Paradise

BOCA RATON – Last night (March 25), the Florida Atlantic University Owls (35-3) shocked the world by advancing to the 2023 NCAA Tournament Final Four for the first time in program history.

The ninth-seeded Owls upset the third-seeded Kansas State Wildcats (26-10) in dramatic fashion with a final score of 79-76.

FAU’s leading scorers were:

•Sophomore guard Alijah Martin – 17 points

•Sophomore forward Vladislav Goldin – 14 points,13 rebounds

Kansas State was carried by senior guard Markquis Nowell, who had 30 points and 12 assists.

The Owls accomplished a rare feat by becoming the third ninth seed in NCAA Tournament history to make the Final Four. The other two teams were Wichita State (2013) and Pennsylvania (1979).

This is Florida Atlantic’s second trip to the NCAA Tournament (2002). Going into this year’s Tournament, the Owls had never won a game. This year, the “Beach Boys” have been busting brackets and breaking hearts by defeating No. 8 seed Memphis (66-65), No. 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson (78-70), No. 4 seed Tennessee (62-55), and No. 3 seed Kansas State (79-76).

This historic tournament run has been filled with individual milestones as well.

Johnell Davis became the first player in NCAA Tournament history to finish with 25+ points (29), 10+ rebounds (12), five assists, and five steals in the win against Fairleigh Dickinson.

Head coach Dusty May achieved his 100th win with the Owls after the Sweet Sixteen victory over Tennessee.

Martin scoring his 1,000th career point at FAU during the Elite Eight victory against Kansas State.