Dec. 28, 2006

Box Score

CHESTNUT HILL, MASS. -- Scott Grote, whose 3-pointer with eight seconds left in regulation forced overtime, hit 5-of-6 free throws in the extra period to help Duquesne to a 98-93 win at Boston College.

The win, in addition to being the Duquesne's first ever on an Atlantic Coast Conference school's home floor, was also Duquesne's first victory over an ACC team since a 91-84 home win over No. 10 (AP) Florida State on Dec. 15, 1992.

With the victory, the 4-7 Dukes have exceed last season's win total (3-24). The loss dropped Boston College to 7-4.

Robert Mitchell led a balanced DU attack with 20 points, Grote, who had two points at the half, finished with 19. Aaron Jackson scored 19 and Kieron Achara added 17 for the Dukes who were playing without head coach Ron Everhart who is currently hospitalized in Pittsburgh with a gastrointestinal ailment.

Assistant coaches Kim Lewis, Richard Pitino and Daryn Freedman have shared coaching duties since Everhart admitted himself to Passavant Hospital on Christmas Day.

"We have been buying into what the coaches have been teaching us and it paid off," said Grote.

"This feels so good," said Jackson who added seven rebounds in a team-high 41 minutes, "especially without our coach."

Sean Marshall scored career-high 30 points and Tyrese Rice added a career-best 29 for Boston College. Six-eleven center Sean Williams scored 19 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked 13 shots in a losing effort.

The Eagles were without leading scorer and rebounder Jared Dudley (foot injury) and forward/center John Oates (foot injury) who watched the game in street clothes.

Duquesne trailed 75-65 with 4:43 left before going on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to one at the 2:35 mark. Williams ended BC's four-plus minute scoreless streak with a jump hook to give the Eagles a 77-74 lead with 34 seconds left. Duquesne then came down and worked the ball around the perimeter before Achara found Grote on the right wing. Grote, who had missed his first six 3-point attempts, nailed this one with 8.2 seconds on the clock to tie the game at 77-77.

Rice missed a driving attempt with two seconds left to send the game to overtime.

With the score tied at 81-81 in overtime, Mitchell was fouled on a 3-point attempt and made all three to put Duquesne up 87-84 with 1:30 left. The Dukes maintained the lead the rest of the way.

After Rice hit a pair of free throws, Grote was fouled on a drive by Tyrelle Blair and Williams was whistled for a technical foul on the play. Mitchell hit both free throws on the technical and Grote made one, giving the Dukes a 89-86 lead with 1:05 left.

With 18.4 seconds left and DU up 92-89, Williams grabbed Reggie Jackson's shirt while trying to foul him and was called for an intentional foul. Jackson hit both free throws and the Dukes retained possession. BC would get no closer than three the rest of the way.

"At the beginning of the game we didn't back down," said Grote. "We went through some ups and downs, but really played as a team in the second half. Beating an ACC team is huge. This is a real confidence booster for us."

Duquesne went 4-of-5 from the field and hit 12-of-15 free throws in the overtime.

DU, which was outshot 50.0 percent to 43.6 percent, won the battle of the boards 42-39 and also outscored the Eagles in the paint 40-38. The Dukes finished with 21 offensive rebounds and converted that into a 21-14 advantage in second-chance points.

"We came into this game with a little bit of a cavalier attitude," said Boston College head coach Al Skinner. "I don't think we respected them enough to do what we had to do."

Duquesne, which has won back-to-back road games for the first time since December of 1994, opens conference play on Jan. 3 at Saint Joseph's.