Brooklyn, NY—The Barclays Center was adorned with the vibrant hues of red, white, and blue, echoing the colors of Duquesne University, as the Dukes surged ahead with a commanding 15-point lead in the Atlantic 10 Tournament championship clash. Their eyes fixed on a coveted NCAA Tournament berth, the Dukes were determined to end their 47-year absence from March Madness.
Yet, with a considerable amount of time left on the clock – a daunting 18 minutes – premature jubilation seemed ill-advised. Undeterred by the looming challenge, Jimmy Clark III, Dae Dae Grant, alongside Coach Keith Dambrot and the entire Duquesne squad, maintained their composure, ultimately clinching a hard-fought 57-51 victory against fifth-seeded VCU to etch their name into the annals of March Madness.
“This isn’t a situation we haven’t been in before so we knew exactly what to do,” said Clark, who scored nine points and made four free throws in the final 21 seconds left to help seal the title.
Clark, a pivotal figure in the triumph, showcased nerves of steel, contributing nine crucial points and sinking four free throws in the final 21 seconds to seal the championship.
For the resilient sixth-seeded Dukes, renowned for their ability to bounce back from adversity, navigating through challenges has become second nature. Despite a rocky start to the conference season with five consecutive losses, they remained undeterred, fueled by a collective determination to defy the odds.
While their offensive rhythm faltered in the second half, Duquesne’s defensive prowess, coupled with an impressive eight-game winning streak, proved instrumental in securing the championship title.
Coach Dambrot, a seasoned tactician with a storied coaching career that once intersected with basketball royalty in LeBron James, masterminded Duquesne’s historic campaign, matching a program record for victories.
The road to triumph was not devoid of hurdles. Dambrot, who assumed the reins of the Duquesne program in 2017 after departing from the University of Akron, faced the daunting task of cultivating a winning culture from the ground up.
Amidst the intensity of the championship showdown, both teams engaged in a gritty battle, resulting in a contest that may not have dazzled aesthetically, according to VCU’s Joe Bamisile.
A minor disruption ensued when premature streamers and confetti descended prematurely, briefly halting proceedings. However, this hiccup failed to derail Duquesne’s unwavering focus. Despite enduring a scoring drought in the latter half, they remained resolute, clinging to their lead and emerging triumphant.
“Two teams competing for a championship, it doesn’t look pretty,” Bamisile said. “It was just an ugly game on both sides.”
For Coach Dambrot, the victory held profound significance, serving as a beacon of joy amidst personal tribulations, including his wife’s courageous battle with breast cancer. It stood as a testament to resilience and unity in the face of adversity.
Ultimately, it was a collective endeavor from the Duquesne contingent, with standout performances from the likes of Grant and Clark, whose contributions were instrumental in securing the historic victory, with Grant earning the tournament’s most outstanding player accolade.
UP NEXT:
VCU will hope for an NIT bid.
Duquesne will head to the NCAA Tournament as the only team from Pittsburgh in the field, but probably won’t get to stay home for the first-round games being played in their hometown.
