No. 14 Florida Atlantic shocked No. 4 Arizona, 96–95 in double-overtime, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday.
The Owls (10–2) were led by senior guard Johnell Davis, who scored a game-high 35 points while adding nine rebounds, three assists and three steals.
The Wildcats, who have now lost to two ranked teams in their last three games, shot a season-low 38.8 % from the field (33-for-85), while struggling from beyond the arc hitting just 7-of-25 from (28%) from deep.
GAME OF THE SEASON? 🤯
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) December 23, 2023
No. 14 Florida Atlantic outlasts No. 4 Arizona in a double overtime THRILLER 🦉 pic.twitter.com/ZjHZewiKII
Senior point guard Caleb Love led the Wildcats in a losing effort scoring a team-high 26 points.
Florida Atlantic will look to extend their winning streak when they face Florida Gulf Coast on Dec. 30, while Arizona looks to rebound when they face California in their Pac-12 opener on Dec. 29.
The Owls upset win elicited immediate reactions from the college basketball world who called the instant classic the "Game of the Year" on the hardwood this season.
𝐖𝐄 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐃𝐈𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— No. 14 Florida Atlantic Men's Basketball (@FAUMBB) December 23, 2023
TOOK OVER LAS VEGAS AND TOOK DOWN THE NATION’S NUMBER FOUR TEAM IN DOUBLE OT!!!!!!!#WinningInParadise pic.twitter.com/lDdth2Xp6Y
FINAL: FAU 96, Arizona 95 in double-overtime.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) December 23, 2023
GAME. OF. THE. YEAR.
FINAL: No. 14 Florida Atlantic 96, No. 4 Arizona 95. Double overtime.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) December 23, 2023
GAME OF THE YEAR. Thriller in Vegas.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC BASKETBALL.
— Noah Goldberg (@TheNoahGoldberg) December 23, 2023
It’s REAL. And it’s SPECTACULAR. #FAU pic.twitter.com/eKFjF0glHb
In a big college hoops battle in Las Vegas btw @ArizonaMBB vs @FAUMBB - FLORIDA ATLANTIC who shocked the nation last year by getting to the Final 4 beats Wildcats 84-83 in ot .
— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) December 23, 2023
Impressive win by Florida Atlantic against Arizona. If they roll through their conference, have a chance to get a really good NCAA seed
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) December 23, 2023
FAU! FAU! FAU!
— Mid-Major Madness (@mid_madness) December 23, 2023
WHAT A HUGE WIN FOR THE OWLS! THEIR FIRST EVER AGAINST A TOP 10 TEAM!
THEY GRITTED IT OUT IN 2OT AGAINST #4 ARIZONA AT A NEUTRAL SITE, 96-95.
Johnell Davis went crazy with 35 points.
What a game.
Florida Atlantic Basketball.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 16, 2023
It's Real.
And It's Spectacular.
