SALT LAKE CITY — Fairleigh Dickinson got the whole March experience. It cut down the nets. It won an NCAA Tournament game. And then it was harshly sent home two days later.

There’s a reason this month is described as madness — one second you’re on the top of the world, the next you’re at the bottom.

Forty-eight hours after the 16th-seeded Knights staged a memorable rally in the First Four in Dayton, Ohio, for the first tournament victory in program history, they tasted the nastier part of March, slaughtered by No. 1 Gonzaga, 87-49, in a West Region first-round game at Vivint Smart Home Arena.

The Bulldogs, out for blood after suffering their third loss of the season in the West Coast Conference title game nine days ago, scored 18 of the game’s first 22 points, built a 20-point lead halfway through the opening half and were up 36 halftime. But afterward, FDU looked at the bright side and all it had accomplished in recent weeks — winning its second Northeast Conference crown in four years, rallying from 13 down against Prairie View A&M in Dayton and getting a chance to share the floor with a national title contender.

“It’s something I will never forget,” said senior Darnell Edge, who scored 33 points in the First Four victory.

FDU (21-14) knew it had to play a perfect game to even hang with one of the nation’s premier programs, and it was evident early that wasn’t in the cards. The Knights missed their first six shots, committed 17 turnovers, shot just 6-of-21 from 3-point range — their greatest strength — and were overwhelmed by their bigger, more talented and battle-tested opponent at basically every position.

“We got downhill, we were not used to their size, but we were fighting, we kept pushing and all we wanted to do was let everyone know we weren’t going to quit,” senior forward Mike Holloway Jr. said.

Edge characterized Gonzaga (31-3) as the best offensive team he’s seen in four years, a balanced, explosive and versatile unit that tore the Knights up in the paint and on the perimeter, shooting 53 percent from the field and assisting on 22-of-34 made baskets.. The Knights were able to penetrate, but there were always two defenders waiting for them. Game film couldn’t adequately prepare them for the Bulldogs and projected first-round picks Rui Hachimura and Brandon Clarke.

“It’s a different level,” FDU coach Greg Herenda said. “And the Zags tonight showed that level.”

Even in this lopsided defeat, however, there was a bright spot. In the final seconds, popular senior Nadi Beciri scored a basket. Beciri, sidelined with a major back injury, hadn’t played since Nov. 14. But with the game out of reach, Herenda sent in the senior. It was a heartwarming moment for a kid the FDU coach described as “pied piper,” and a memorable way to end the season.

“That was kind of our victory tonight, that we played a great team and fought and never quit,” Herenda said. “But we were beaten soundly by a team that has the potential to win a national championship.”