Duquesne (6-11, 1-5 A10) starting with a strong first half performance against Saint Bonaventure (11-6, 4-2 A10) took the lead with a 26-10 run when Derrick Colter hit a three-pointer at the 5:13 mark. The Dukes would continue to control the remainder of the first half and went into the locker room with a significant 51-39 lead.
“I’m extremely disappointed we weren’t able to pull it out. We had that lead down the stretch, I thought we got a little passive offensively instead of staying aggressive,” said Duquesne’s coach Jim Ferry.
While both teams enjoyed good shooting percentages in first half play, it was Duquesne’s 70 percent three-point average compared to Saint Bonaventure’s 46 percent that gave the Dukes the needed edge. Also, the Dukes held the Bonnies to four free throws – and no field goals – for over six minutes during the run.
This was Duquesne’s (men) first overtime game since an 1987 loss to Charlotte. Saint Bonaventure was the first opponent to score 100 on the Dukes since Fordham in a 111-100 loss to Duquesne on March 5, 2010.
“I thought that was a great college basketball game. I thought both teams played really, really hard, really aggressive. I thought there were plays being made all over the court by both teams,” said Ferry.
In commenting on Marcus Posley’s field goal with 0.06 left in regulation play that tied the game Ferry said, “Posley in that position I thought we guarded deep and guys all over him, draped all over him and he hit that big three, so you got to credit him for making that play.”
Going into the second half, the Dukes were just as strong and built its largest lead of the game, 15 making the score 65-50 after Micah Mason hit a three-pointer. In fact, during the second half the Bonnies never made it to within eight of the Dukes until Marcus Posley hit a layup reducing the Duke’s lead to six points, 89-63 for the first time in the second half.
With 3:21 remaining the Dukes were up by 12, 88-76, but the Bonnies had an 11-2 run to make it a one possession contest 90-87. With six seconds left, Marcus Posley, tied the game at 90 by making a stunning three pointer from outside the key, sending the game into overtime.
The Bonnie’s took the lead in overtime when Youssou Ndoye made a free throw. The Duke’s last lead of the game, 97-96 came with 0.20 left after Jordan Stevens made a basket in the paint. With 0.08 left Jaylen Adams put the Bonnies up by three 100-97 by making two free throws. Duquesne was not able to get a viable opportunity at making a field goal in the final seconds.
There was a one point difference between Duquesne’s high scorer. With 18 points, one rebound and four assists is Micah Mason led the Duke’s scoring efforts. With 17 points, six rebounds and three assists Derrick Colter was a close second.
The Bonnies had four players in double-digit scoring Saturday. Leading the group was Marcus Posley with 36 points, four rebounds and two assists. Next up with 20 points, 15 rebounds and one assist was Youssou Nodye who racked up a double-double of 20 points, 15 rebounds and one assist.
Duquesne heads to Washington, D.C. Saturday to face George Washington.
