The Duquesne Dukes celebrate after defeating the Virginia Commonwealth Rams Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Way-too-early confetti release in A10 tournament final

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Mar 17, 2024 4:53 PM ET

Apparently, someone accidentally touched the confetti button during the Atlantic 10 tournament final between Duquesne and VCU.

Typically, confetti is released after the end of a game. However, with 18:00 remaining in the second half and Duquesne up 38-23, blue and red streamers rained on the floor.

"Confetti is falling on the floor! They're gonna have to stop play! We can't see our notes! The players can't work on this court! CONFETTI IS EVERYWHERE! SOMEBODY HIT THE WRONG BUTTON!" - Kevin Harlan ️pic.twitter.com/ExbDTlMJJX
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 17, 2024

"Confetti is falling on the floor. They're gonna have to stop play," CBS Sports play-by-play announcer Kevin Harlan said. "We can't see our notes. The players can't work on this court. Confetti is everywhere. Somebody hit the wrong button."

Clearly, the early celebration — which delayed the game for three minutes — motivated VCU. The Rams went on a 16-4 run, cutting the lead to 42-39 with 6:42 left. The Dukes would hold on, though, clinching a 57-51 victory and punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1977.

The Dukes (24-11) have won eight straight. Perhaps the confetti is a good omen, and they'll make some noise in March Madness, which starts on Tuesday.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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