*** The sixth-seeded Cougars committed one of March’s greatest sins, allowing a lower seed and major underdog to gain early confidence and establish the tone and tempo.
The No. 11 Dukes had not played in the NCAAs since 1977 and had not won a tournament game since 1969.
But they were the aggressor early — tougher, quicker and more at ease in the moment than BYU, which rarely looked comfortable. The free-flowing offense that carried BYU through the regular season was rarely apparent. Duquesne covered the court like a team playing with six defenders.
*** The loss is a massive disappointment for BYU following what was an impressive regular season in which the Cougars won 23 games and finished fifth in the Big 12.
Was it a successful season or a failure? We’d argue it was some of both. (Yes, nuance!)
*** March Madness is made for stars, and BYU’s Jaxson Robinson delivered repeatedly. Robinson finished with 25 points but was shut down in the final minutes.
Nobody else stepped forward to make enough plays to push the Cougars over the top.
*** Telling statistic: BYU players not named Robinson were 3-of-13 from 3-point range and 14-of-42 from the field.
*** The contrast in styles was framed by analytics: BYU entered the game ranked 11th nationally in offensive efficiency, according to the Pomeroy advanced metrics, while Duquesne was 29th in defensive efficiency but 164th in offense.
Would the Dukes succeed in slowing BYU’s high-octane offense and turn the duel into a rock fight?
*** The first half played out in five acts:
— Duquesne’s swarming perimeter defense held the Cougars without a point for five minutes.
— The Dukes led 12-2 when Robinson shot the Cougars back into the game with three 3-pointers.
— But just as BYU appeared to settle into a rhythm, Duquesne answered with another run and led 33-21 with 2:30 left.
— A five-point play energized the Cougars, who scored nine consecutive points.
— Once again, the Dukes answered, finishing the half with back-to-back baskets and taking a 38-30 lead into the locker room.
*** The second half began as the first ended, with Duquesne in control of the tempo and the score.
The Dukes powered to a 46-32 advantage with 17 minutes remaining, pushing BYU to the brink.
But the Cougars kept grinding and picked up their defensive intensity. Back-to-back baskets by Robinson closed the deficit to three points midway through the half.
*** From there, the team exchanged basketball into the final, tense minutes.
The Cougars pulled even on Fousseyni Traore’s dunk with 1:45 left, but the deadlock was short lived as Duquesne went back ahead seconds later.
A layup by Jimmy Clark III with 26 remaining — he sliced through BYU’s defense with ease — gave the Dukes a five-point advantage, then guard Dae Dae Grant sealed the victory with four free throws.
Jon Wilner
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