March Madness: Fousseyni Drame helps No. 11 seed Duquesne upset No. 6 BYU as NCAA Tournament begins
OMAHA, NEBRASKA - MARCH 21: Fousseyni Drame #34 of the Duquesne Dukes reacts after defeating the Brigham Young Cougars during the second half in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at CHI Health Center on March 21, 2024 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) Credit: Getty Images/Jamie Squire
OMAHA, Neb. — Dae Dae Grant had 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, Jimmy Clark III had 11 and Fousseyni Drame had eight points and eight rebounds as the Atlantic 10 tourney champs celebrated their return to the Big Dance after 47 years with their first win there since 1969. The Dukes (25-11) advanced to play third-seeded Illinois 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 Drame, who played at Our Savior New American School in Centereach, slammed down the second of back-to-back baskets to knot the game at 60-all with 1:45 to go.
Clark was fouled at the other end and made two free throws for Duquesne, and when BYU’s Fousseyni Traore missed a floater, he got to the foul line again. Clark only made the first of two foul shots but was able to help tie up a loose ball after the second. On the ensuing play, he broke down the defense for a layup and a 65-60 lead with 26.9 seconds left.
Dallin Hall tried to give the Cougars a chance with four free throws and a deep three-pointer in the final 20 seconds, but Grant — one of the nation’s best foul shooters — was stoic from the free-throw line in sending the Dukes to the next round.
“Bust them brackets, baby! Bust them brackets, baby!” Clark roared as Duquesne headed back to the locker room.
Jaxson Robinson had 25 points for the Cougars, who have lost five straight in the NCAA Tournament, the last four of them to double-digit seeds. Hall and Spencer Johnson added 11 points apiece.
“Just a devastating day for us for sure,” BYU coach Mark Pope said, “and it’s devastating because we lost, devastating because we won’t move on, and most devastating because we won’t get in the gym together again.”
The Cougars were bloodied and bumming for most of the game.
Hall took a shot to the face that left him with tissues shoved up his bleeding nostrils. Richie Saunders got an elbow to the midsection that left him doubled over on the floor.
Johnson even lost a shoe while playing defense, and the Dukes took advantage of the opening for a dunk that helped them build a big early lead.
