COLUMBUS FIRST ROUND

The Big Dance. March Madness. By any nickname, the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament is a sporting event that captures the nation’s attention each spring as teams from big universities and small colleges seek their “One Shining Moment” that will be remembered for decades.

As CBS revealed the NCAA bracket on what is known as “Selection Sunday,” the cameras captured the reaction from Baldwin Arena as the Owls, along with several hundred fans, celebrated FAU’s return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 21 years. FAU was awarded a No. 9 seed in the East Region and sent to Columbus, Ohio, for a first-round game against the No. 8 seed University of Memphis.

And the Owls would deliver a forever March moment in their first game.

Inside Columbus’ Nationwide Arena, the back-and-forth battle with the Tigers found FAU trailing by one point with five seconds remaining. Freshman guard Nick Boyd took a baseline inbounds pass in the corner, drove into the lane and put in a layup with just 2.5 seconds to go. Memphis was unable to get off a desperation shot before the final buzzer sounded, giving FAU the first NCAA Tournament win in program history by a score of 66-65.

“I don’t even know how to really describe the moment,” Boyd said. “I caught it in the corner. I was going to shoot the 3, and [Memphis defender Elijah McCadden] jumped for the shot fake. [FAU center Vladislav Goldin] had a great seal that

HISTORIC 2022-23 SEASON

First National Ranking: peaked at No. 19 in Associated Press poll and No. 20 in USA Today Coaches Poll, finished the season at No. 5 in USA Today Coaches Poll

First Conference USA Regular-Season Championship (18-2 record)

First Conference USA Tournament Championship

20-game Winning Streak (longest in program history, doubling the previous record of 10)

17-0 Home Record at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena (currently on 18-game home winning streak)