Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 1/21/09: Duquesne falls to St. Joe’s at buzzer
Dukes lose on buzzer-beating basket
By Aaron Bracy
FOR THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Thursday, January 22, 2009
PHILADELPHIA — The result was all too familiar for Duquesne against Saint Joseph’s in Philadelphia, but the way it ended made it even more painful for the Dukes.
The Dukes continued their struggles against the Hawks in the City of Brotherly Love, falling 99-98 in overtime for their ninth straight loss to St. Joe’s in Philadelphia. It also was Duquesne’s 17th defeat in 18 regular-season games against the Hawks in Philly.
But up until there was 0.1 second left, it looked as if the Dukes (12-6, 3-2 Atlantic 10) were on their way to a dramatic victory. As it turned out, it was a heartbreaking — and controversial — loss, as Idris Hilliard converted a follow as time expired to give St. Joe’s (10-7, 4-0) a victory in a thrilling contest full of twists and turns.
“I didn’t think it was good, but you don’t know for sure until you look at the film,” Duquesne coach Ron Everhart said of the game-winner.
Everhart’s emotions took a 180-degree turn. Eight seconds before Hilliard’s basket, Jason Duty made a 3-pointer from the right wing that gave the Dukes a 98-97 lead.
“It was exactly the way they drew it up in the timeout,” said Duty, who scored a career-high 20 points to match Damian Saunders for team honors.
But St. Joe’s inbounded the ball and quickly moved downcourt. Tasheed Carr and Garrett Williamson both missed shots for the Hawks before Hilliard grabbed the Williamson rebound and laid it in at the buzzer.
Everhart and the Dukes screamed that the shot shouldn’t have counted, but after conferring at midcourt — and with no TV replay to review — the officials counted the basket, sending Duquesne back to Pittsburgh disappointed.
“I’m very disappointed because we had our chances to win that game,” Everhart said. “We gave a great effort and got great contributions from everyone.”
The Dukes placed six players in double figures, with freshman Eric Evans providing a big offensive spark with all 13 of his points after halftime. Melquan Bolding, with 11 points, and David Theis and Aaron Jackson (10 apiece) also reached double digits for the Dukes.
Ahmad Nivins had a career-high 34 points to go with 16 rebounds, his 10th double-double of the season, to pace St. Joe’s. Hilliard finished with 20 points and Carr had 17 for the Hawks, who won their fifth straight while staying perfect in league play.
However, it was much tougher for St. Joe’s than it looked it would be early in the second half.
The Hawks led comfortably, 67-52, with 14:48 left in the game. It appeared St. Joe’s was in control, with the only thing in doubt the margin of their win.
Theis made consecutive 3-pointers that seemed fairly innocent at the time, but those shots turned out to be the catalyst for an unlikely turn of events.
Evans followed Theis’ shots with a layup that brought the Dukes within 67-60 with 10:59 left. It was the beginning of 11 minutes of basketball the freshman guard from Detroit likely never will forget.
Duquesne kept scoring, St. Joe’s kept missing, and the Dukes, amazingly, led, 76-71, when Saunders made a 3-pointer with 4:24 left. All told, it was a 24-4 run over 10:24, with St. Joe’s managing just one field goal.
Thanks to strong work down low by 6-foot-9 freshman Oliver Lewinson, with some help from double teams, the Dukes held Nivins scoreless during the pivotal stretch.
St. Joe’s scored four straight to pull within 76-75 with 2:11 left when Evans unleashed heroics that looked to put Duquesne on course to victory.
Evans hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key as the shot clock expired. Then, after a Hawks turnover, he drove in for a fastbreak layup, was fouled and made the free throw to complete the three-point play and give Duquesne an 82-75 lead with 1:22 left.
The game turned into a foul shooting contest from that point, as St. Joe’s fouled the Dukes on every possession. DU made 6 of 8 from the line and led, 88-82, with 44.6 seconds left. After a Nivins basket, Evans went to the line with 30.4 seconds left but missed both free throws.
Nivins scored on St. Joe’s next possession, pulling the Hawks within 88-86. Then, Duquesne threw the inbounds pass away and Nivins made two free throws to tie it at 88.
The Dukes had a chance to win the game in regulation, but Jackson’s 3-pointer missed and Saunders’ follow at the buzzer also went off the rim.
The game seesawed in overtime, with the lead changing hand five times — the last on Hilliard’s heroics.
