The number one team in college basketball has fallen — again.
The biggest win in Stephen F. Austin history came down to a buzzer beating layup, toppling Duke in overtime 85-83.
Duke entered the game as 28-point favorites.
The Blue Devils are the second top ranked team this season to be shocked by an unranked opponent. Just two weeks earlier, No. 1 Kentucky fell to Evansville 67-64.
Duke led by 15 points in the first half, but were unable to answer the Lumberjack’s 60+ points in the paint. The Blue Devils couldn’t buy a free throw in the second half, shooting only 60% from the free throw line, despite the Lumberjacks 29 fouls.
With the win, the Lumberjacks snap the NCAA-best 150 consecutive non-conference home winning streak record at Cdukameron Indoor Stadium. The last team to beat Duke at home was St. Johns in 2000.
The winning basket came off of a Duke turnover by Mathew Hurt that led to a fast break for Nathan Bain. All alone, Bain was able to put up the layup in just as time expired in the first overtime. Before the turnover, Duke had the opportunity for the last shot in overtime.
Guard Kevon Harris led the Lumberjacks with 26 points, shooting 11-of-19 from the field. Duke’s Vernon Carey Jr. led the scoring for the Blue Devils with 20 points on 8-of-10 from the field.
The small program from Nacogdoches, Texas has appeared in the NCAA tournament just 5 times, reaching the third round in 2014. This loss will go down as one of the worst upsets for Duke in the Coach K era.
Duke will have a week to lick their wounds before facing No. 3 Michigan State, who just the day before, suffered an upset loss at the hands of unranked Virginia Tech.
With both programs looking for a bounceback, the top teams in college basketball have been put on notice.
