Barclays Center—-Jimmy Clark III led the charge with 16 points as Duquesne secured a hard-fought 65-57 victory over No. 24 Dayton in the Atlantic 10 Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday night.
Despite a standout performance by DaRon Holmes II, who notched 24 points, Dayton struggled to find its rhythm on the court, resulting in a challenging night for the Flyers (24-7), who now face the uncertainty of an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament.
Dayton’s head coach, Anthony Grant, expressed disappointment at the loss, emphasizing the team’s hope for further postseason action based on their season-long efforts. However, with their fate hanging in the balance, Dayton faces an anxious wait for tournament selections.
The Atlantic 10 Tournament witnessed upsets with all four top seeds faltering in the quarterfinals, leaving No. 5 seed VCU as the highest-ranked team remaining. Meanwhile, Duquesne (22-11) seized the opportunity to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2009, fueled by a determined performance and a six-game winning streak.
Coach Keith Dambrot commended his team’s defensive prowess, particularly in limiting Dayton’s offensive output to 57 points. Duquesne’s resurgence in the latter part of the season, overcoming a slow start in A-10 play, has positioned them as formidable contenders in the tournament.
Looking ahead, Duquesne prepares to face seventh-seeded St. Bonaventure in the upcoming semifinal clash, following the Bonnies’ thrilling double-overtime victory against No. 2 seed Loyola Chicago. With momentum on their side, the Dukes aim to secure their first March Madness appearance since 1977.
Despite Holmes’ standout performance for Dayton, which included 13 boards and a career-high 13 free throws, the Flyers struggled to find their offensive rhythm, shooting just 32% from the hardwood and missing numerous 3-point attempts. Duquesne capitalized on Dayton’s offensive woes, rallying in the crucial moments to secure a pivotal victory.
As the tournament unfolds, both teams reflect on their journey, with Dayton facing the disappointment of an early exit and Duquesne reveling in their resurgence and newfound momentum heading into the semifinals.
