Florida Atlantic Owls right where they believe they belong, in the Elite Eight | D'Angelo

NEW YORK — Dusty May had just delivered his 34th victory speech of the season when he had one last message for his team:

"Three more to go."

Florida Atlantic University's stunning march in the NCAA Tournament continues. It's surreal enough to say ninth-seeded FAU advanced to the Elite Eight with a 62-55 victory over No. 4 seed Tennessee on Thursday.

But it's downright unthinkable, unimaginable, unbelievable and any other "un" word to say the mid-major from Boca Raton is one win from the Final Four.

One win from joining Loyola and George Mason and VCU and all the other surprises to play on the biggest weekend in the college sports calendar.

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But do not say that to May or his team. This team truly believes that this is just part of the plan. Truly believes it belongs playing No. 3 seed Kansas State Saturday for a trip to Houston the following weekend.

"It sounds just right," said guard Nick Boyd, whose 12 points against the Vols were second behind Johnell Davis' 15.

"We're where we are supposed to be."

And the Owls (34-3) proved it. As Tennessee (25-11) missed shot after shot after shot in the final 30 seconds, the FAU sideline stood and nervously watched.

Finally, when the Vols inbounded the ball with four seconds to play and waved the checkered flag, the Owls rushed the court, but mostly the celebration was saved for reveling with their fans and fellow students at Madison Square Garden.

FAU Owls think they belong in the Final Four

This was not a team that acted like it was stunned to be moving on.

"We know what we are capable of," guard Michael Forrest said. "We set our standards high."

May always believed his players would not enter this week with wide eyes. He knew they would not be awed by the other three remaining teams in the East Region — Tennessee, Kansas State, Michigan State — despite their pedigree and elite basketball status.

"We're here to stay and we're going to keep fighting no matter who we line up against," Boyd said.

We now know May was right when he said the stage would not be too big and the lights not too bright. Not even the stage and the lights of Madison Square Garden.

What we were not sure of was whether Tennessee was too big or if the Vols were too physical for the Owls. If Tennessee's size, led by 7-foot-1 Uros Plavsic, would be too much to scale or its defense too difficult to overcome.

How'd that go for the Vols? FAU outrebounded a team ranked in the top 10 nationally in rebounding margin and rate, 40-36.

And although the Vols' nation-best 3-point defense had FAU at a measly 21% in the first half, the Owls solved that with an 18-2 game-deciding run in the second half that turned a six-point deficit into a 10-point lead with 6:10 to play.

Tennessee wouldn't get closer than five points the rest of the way.

"We always had it in us," guard Alijah Martin said. "We just got to stay the course. We're going to make that run every time."

One play said it all when looking for that snapshot to define this victory. It came with seven minutes remaining in the game when Vladislav Goldin, who at 7-1 was the Owls' best counter to Tennessee's size, reached above all and snatched an offensive rebound … with one hand.

That led to a Brandon Weatherspoon basket that capped that 18-2 run.

Vladislav Goldin has the question of the night

When asked about the rebound, Goldin answered with a question of his own.

"You like that?" he said.

Then continued, "We were ready for their play physically."

Especially Goldin, who baited Plavsic into a flagrant foul.

The run did not surprise May, who was waiting for something similar in a plodding first half that set offensive basketball back to the days of the two-handed set shot and satin shorts.

The Owls trailed 27-22 at halftime and not only could not score with the ball, but they also could not protect it either with nine turnovers.

Then came the decisive seven minutes that put the Owls right where they believe they belong … one game from the Final Four.

"Our guys really believe in what they do," May said. "And when it's not working, they don't panic. They just stay the course and trust over the course of 40 minutes and 60, 70 possessions, typically — 50 possessions tonight — that we're going to figure it out."

Tom D'Angelo is a sports columnist for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.

Saturday's gameNCAA Tournament, Elite EightEast Region, FinalMadison Square Garden, New YorkNo. 9 FAU vs. No. 3 Kansas State6 p.m., TBS

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: FAU Owls basketball beats Tennessee in March Madness, moves to Elite 8