Jimmy Clark III's buzzer-beating 3-pointer completes Duquesne's rally against Ball State

Jimmy Clark III’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the first half seemed like a pretty significant basket, as it clawed Duquesne back within striking distance of visiting Ball State after the Dukes had faced an early deficit of as much as 14 points.

But as it would turn out, Clark had one more buzzer-beater left in him, and on that basket, it won the Dukes (7-1) the game, 78-77, on Saturday afternoon at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.

Duquesne, winners of six straight, battled Ball State closely for the majority of the second half, but the final three minutes were about as high-stress as it gets.

.@TreClark_11 AT THE BUZZZER....AGAIN!!! Dukes win 78-77! pic.twitter.com/SXumoxI6E3

— Duquesne Basketball (@DuqMBB) December 3, 2022

Dae Dae Grant hit a pair of free throws to give the Dukes a 75-74 lead with 22 seconds to play, and on Ball State’s ensuing possession, Jaylin Sellers made a layup and a free throw after being fouled on the drive to put his team up 77-75.

It was on the Dukes’ final possession, which began with 12.9 seconds to play, that Clark took control of the ball. With time dwindling and a good look nowhere to be found, he heaved up a prayer that somehow went in.

“We had a gameplan coming in after the timeout, and we were trying to stick to the play,” Clark said of Duquesne’s last possession. “The play didn’t work, so once I got (the ball) I was trying to make a quick pass, but once I realized there were like three seconds left, I knew I had to get a clean look off.”

For Duquesne, Saturday represented a switch of the offensive formula that has propelled the team so far into this season.

To date, the Dukes largely have ridden the offensive contributions of Grant, who, entering the afternoon, had scored at least 20 points in four straight games and averaged 20.1 for the year.

Ball State, and specifically tight man defense by Sellers, limited him to 11 on 3-of-10 shooting, but, ultimately, it opened up the floor for the likes of Clark, who led Duquesne with 16 points on 5-of-13 shooting, and Tevin Brewer, who added 14 (5 of 10).

“I think it’s something we’ve known all along, that we’ve had good backcourt players,” Duquesne associate head coach Dru Joyce III said. “Tevin is, day by day, getting healthier and back to himself, and I thought tonight, when earlier today when Dae Dae had his struggles, Tevin was able to carry some of that offensive load. Clark also stepped up as well.”

Starting the second half down 40-36, the Dukes took their first lead of the game with 12 minutes, 50 seconds to play, going up 53-51.

Things would stay neck-and-neck for the remainder, with Duquesne maintaining a slight lead — never more than four points — for the majority of the rest of the game.

With 58 seconds to play, the score was tied 73-73.

Ball State big man Payton Sparks completed a 3-point play to put Ball State up by one with 38 seconds left, which then led into Grant’s free throws that prefaced Clark’s eventual game-winner.

“I didn’t particularly like the way we won the game,” Dukes coach Keith Dambrot said. “I like that we won the game, don’t get me wrong, but I’d rather win it with a defensive stop than an offensive play. … We just have to play better defense. It’s so obvious to me that that’s the key for us.”

Up next for the Dukes, who continue on in their nonconference homestand, is a matchup with Marshall on Thursday. Tipoff is at 7 p.m.