‘Somebody hit the wrong button!’: Hilarious moment Barclays Center officials accidentally set off the confetti cannons with 18 minutes left to play in A-10 Championship Game
- Duquesne wanted to reach its first NCAA tournament in 47 years on Sunday
- With an increase of 15, a Barclays Center official accidentally released the confetti early
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
The A-10 Championship Game was thrown into disarray Sunday afternoon when officials at the Barclays Center accidentally set off the confetti cannons with 18 minutes to play.
Duquesne fans may have been dreaming of their first March Madness appearance in 47 years with a 15-point lead over VCU, but it’s fair to say they hadn’t quite prepared for the festivities.
That’s why it must have come as a big surprise to Brooklyn that they were showered with confetti while the players were still battling on the field.
In hilarious scenes that left both teams and fans stunned, play-caller Kevin Harlan shouted, “Confetti falling to the ground!” They will have to stop the game!
‘We can’t see our notes. The players cannot train on this field. Confetti is everywhere! Someone pressed the wrong button!’
With 18 minutes to play, the confetti cannons went off early at the Barclays Center
The players and officials looked stunned as the multi-colored paper began to fall onto the field
Fans in the stands got on with it and jokingly celebrated their victory earlier than expected
When the players and officials realized what had happened, the game was immediately stopped for a quick clean-up operation – and perhaps to fire the intern who accidentally hit the button too early.
No. 6 seed Duquesne Dukes ultimately won the A-10 Championship and booked their spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1977.
In total, they had only made it five times in the past, once in the 1940s, once in the 1950s, once in the 1960s and then twice in the 1970s.
Officials quickly ran onto the field to clear the streamers and get the game going again
In the booth, the commentators had to clear their desks so they could see their notes
Since then, the Pittsburgh-based university has dealt with a mediocre existence and semi-regular NIT appearances.
However, that has all changed now, under coach Keith Dambrot.
At the Barclays Center, the Dukes saw out the game 57-51… and luckily for their fans, some more confetti fell from the rafters.