- No 11 seed Dukes hang on for win over Cougars
- MSU’s Tom Izzo picks up 20th first-round win
Dae Dae Grant scored 19 points, including four clinching free throws in the final 10 seconds, and No 11 seed Duquesne kept retiring coach Keith Dambrot working for a little bit longer with a 71-67 victory against sixth-seeded BYU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
Jakub Necas added 12 points and Jimmy Clark III had 11 as the Atlantic 10 tourney champs celebrated their return to the dance after 47 years with their first win there since 1969. The Dukes (25-11) advanced to play third-seeded Illinois or No 14 seed Morehead State for a spot in the Sweet 16 on Saturday.
“They just don’t want me to retire,” Dambrot said. “I’m trying to get to the promised land, and they’re making me keep coaching.”
The Cougars (23-11) trailed by as many as 14 in the second half before drawing even when Fousseyni Traore, who had struggled all game, slammed down the second of back-to-back baskets to knot the game at 60-all with 1:45 to go but it was Duquesne who won through.
“Bust them brackets, baby! Bust them brackets, baby!” Clark roared as Duquesne headed back to the locker room.
