Ryan Langborg has an aptitude for this.
He was a big part of 15th-seeded Princeton’s Sweet 16 journey last year, and the Ivy League transfer assured that No. 9 Northwestern would not be eliminated in the NCAA Tournament on Friday.
Beginning the quadruple header in Brooklyn, the 6-foot-4 guard controlled the extra session after the Wildcats forced overtime with nine seconds left on a basket by Brooks Barnhizer. Langborg scored 10 points in the final five minutes to help the Wildcats defeat No. 8 Florida Atlantic, 77-65.
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On Saturday, they will play in the East Region second round against overall No. 1 Connecticut.
“Man, he was balling today,” teammate Boo Buie commented.
The Owls, the Cinderella story of last year’s tournament, are leaving early.
Most observers believed they were over-seeded after losing the AAC Tournament.
The setback may signal the end of an era for the Florida school.
Dusty May, a program architect and coach, is a top candidate for the job at either Michigan or Louisville.
“One day at a time,” May answered when questioned about his future. “We have signed a very good high school class at FAU, and all of those decisions will be made later.
Langborg scored 48 points in the final two games of Princeton’s tournament run last year and a season-high 27 points on Friday, securing the thrilling victory.
He had four rebounds, three assists, and went 11 of 19 from the field.
Buie finished with 22 points and four assists.
“I feel like for all three of us up here, we are just having fun,” Langborg added, referring to Buie and Barnhizer. “I usually don’t celebrate a lot when I make shots, but I know I had my tongue out and things like that.”
Northwestern (22-11) led for nearly the entire second half before FAU (25-9) went on a 13-2 run in the final minutes, sparked by a controversial flagrant penalty.
However, the Wildcats maintained their poise. Barnhizer’s layup with nine seconds remaining drew the game at 58-all, forcing overtime after Johnell Davis’ 3-pointer was blocked at the buzzer.
“We just got together at the end,” Northwestern coach Chris Collins explained. “Those who follow our league are aware that we have played numerous overtime games.
“And we just said when we got to overtime, we are going to find a way because that’s what we’ve done all year.”