At the Barclays Center, the atmosphere was electric as red, white, and blue streamers cascaded down, celebrating the Duquesne Dukes’ commanding 15-point lead in the Atlantic 10 Tournament championship game. They were on the cusp of securing their first NCAA Tournament spot in 47 years. However, the game was far from over, with around 18 minutes of play remaining.
Jimmy Clark III, Dae Dae Grant, Coach Keith Dambrot, and the rest of the Duquesne team eventually celebrated their victory, albeit with fewer streamers, after defeating the fifth-seeded VCU 57-51 on Sunday. This victory marked their first invitation to March Madness since 1977. For the Dukes, who had a rocky start to the conference season with a five-game losing streak, overcoming challenges is nothing new. “We’ve faced tough situations before, so we knew exactly how to handle it,” Clark remarked, contributing nine points and securing the win with four crucial free throws in the last 21 seconds.
Despite leading by 14 at halftime, clinching the NCAA bid was no easy feat for Duquesne. The team struggled in the second half, scoring only 21 points and making just 5 of 29 shots. Yet, the small Catholic university from Pittsburgh is heading to the Big Dance on an eight-game winning streak, thanks to their strong defensive play throughout the year. Coach Dambrot, who once coached LeBron James in high school, led the Dukes to match a program record for wins set back in 1953-54, a team his father, Sid, played on.
LeBron James himself celebrated Duquesne’s achievement on social media, cheering them on to the Big Dance. The last time Duquesne clinched the A-10 and made it to the NCAA Tournament, it was under the leadership of future NBA All-Star Norm Nixon. Dambrot, who joined Duquesne in 2017 after leading the University of Akron to three NCAA Tournaments in 13 years, knew reviving the Duquesne program would be a challenge, given its modest history of success.
VCU, aiming to repeat as A-10 tournament champions, faced a tough game, as Joe Bamisile, leading with 20 points, described the championship match as an “ugly game on both sides.” The game’s intensity peaked in the final moments, with Clark’s free throws and a crucial three-pointer from Zeb Jackson of VCU bringing suspense. However, Duquesne held on, with Grant, who scored all his 10 points in the first half, being named the tournament’s most outstanding player.
The celebration was momentarily paused early in the second half when streamers fell prematurely due to a technical glitch, causing a brief delay. This incident didn’t shake Dambrot’s focus, who remained calm, attributing it to his superstitious nature as a former baseball player. Off the court, Dambrot faced personal challenges, as his wife, Donna, has been battling breast cancer. The tournament marked the first time she could attend the games this season.
In the end, Duquesne found the offense needed to secure their victory, with a significant three-pointer from Necas extending their lead. VCU attempted a comeback, but Duquesne’s defense and timely scoring ensured their historic win. “It’s incredible to be part of making history,” Clark expressed, capturing the sentiment of a team that had just ended a 47-year wait for an NCAA Tournament bid.