Bill Raftery didn’t quite understand why Johnell Davis took his time before flinging a last-second 3-point attempt for Florida Atlantic.
After Brooks Barnhizer’s layup tied the game at 58, Davis, a junior guard for the Owls, ended up in possession and had a chance to do something — drive for a layup, take an open jumper, at least cycle a pass to try and spark something — to produce the game-winning points in the NCAA Tournament’s first round.
But Davis stalled.
He kept stalling.
Johnell Davis’ 3-pointer at the buzzer was blocked by Northwester. Screengrab via X/@GaryParrishCBS
He dribbled until the clock ticked down to three seconds and Davis — by time point engulfed by two Northwestern defenders — took a 3-pointer that was blocked and fell short of even hitting the rim.
“What’s he doing?” Raftery one of the CBS analysts alongside Ian Eagle and Grant Hill, asked after the horn sounded to signal overtime.
FAU had trailed by nine with 6:43 remaining and mounted a comeback to give them a chance to win in the first place, but they ended up falling in overtime, 77-65, in the first-round game at Barclays Center.
Bill Raftery was puzzled by Johnell Davis’ decision at the end of regulation for Florida Atlantic. AP
Ryan Langborg led the Wildcats with 27 points, while Boo Buie added 22.
Davis, who led FAU in scoring with 18.2 points per game during the regular season, was a key contributor during the Owls’ run to the Final Four last year — compiling 29 points against Fairleigh Dickinson, 15 against Tennessee and 13 against Kansas State in the Sweet 16.
They eventually fell to San Diego State in the Final Four, but a 25-8 mark in 2023-24 helped secure an at-large bid and return to March Madness following a loss to Temple in the Atlantic-10 semifinals.
Johnell Davis scored 18 points for Florida Atlantic during their overtime loss to Northwestern in the NCAA Tournament. Getty Images
Davis finished with 18 points while connecting on 6-of-16 shots against Northwestern.
He accounted for 11 of their 20 points in a low-scoring first half, allowing Florida Atlantic to enter halftime with a one-point lead.
But the strange 3-pointer at the end of regulation followed by a brutal overtime for Florida Atlantic led to their elimination — and allowed Northwestern to advance and likely face Connecticut, who was dominating No. 16 Stetson, 52-19, after the first half of their matchup.