Charles Krupa, Associated Press Boston College center Sean Williams, center, is sandwiched by Duquesne forward Scott Grote, left, and center Kieron Achara as they battle for a loose ball in the second half last night in Boston. Click photo for larger image. Related article From the hospital, Everhart follows a stunning upset

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. -- How best to assess the Boston College-Duquesne men's basketball contest last night?

One team entered with a 3-7 record. The other stood at a perfectly opposite 7-3. One team had a head coach with a history of willing his team into the NCAA tournament. The other used three assistants. One team relied on an overhauled, youthful roster. The other used veterans with a taste for pressure and tension in big games.

So, when the final seconds ticked off the clock and the Duquesne bench basked in a 98-93 overtime victory at Conte Forum (the Dukes' second in a row since a 7-game losing streak), the only emotions were shock, surprise, and most important, euphoria.

After all, these were the same Dukes who previously were winless in Atlantic Coast Conference arenas (now 1-11). And they seemed to be missing the key inside presence to match 6-foot-10 Boston College center Sean Williams and his Division I-leading 5.6 blocks per game (45 total).

The Dukes made first-year coach Ron Everhart proud, however, in dispatching the Eagles. Everhart -- who missed his first game in 13 years as a head coach -- admitted himself to UPMC Passavant Hospital early Monday afternoon with abdominal pain and is being treated with antibiotics. He hopes to be released today.

"Right before the game, we were talking to Coach on the phone, and he said this is a great opportunity to put ourselves on the map," guard Aaron Jackson said. "Right now, he's thinking that."

Duquesne is now 6-20 against the ACC and has won two games in a row on the road for the first time since December 1994. The win is the Dukes' first against an ACC opponent since a 91-84 win against then No.10 Florida State in December 1992.

"Me and the other assistants must have talked to coach Everhart for at least 10 hours over the last two days," assistant coach Richard Pitino said. "We worked for him. We know it was his win. We were doing what he told us to do."

Despite their underdog status, the Dukes had one thing going for them entering the game as All-America candidate Jared Dudley (18.8 points, 9 rebounds a game) and 6-10 center John Oates were missing for the Eagles because of injuries. Forward Akida McLain (Penn Hills High School) also sat out for Boston College.

Boston College led, 75-65, with 4:42 to play, but the Dukes tied it, 77-77, on Scott Grote's 3-pointer with 8 seconds left, pushing the game into overtime.

"The coaches had been telling me all game to shoot, and I finally got a good open look and I let it go," Grote said. "This is big. We're buying into what the coaches are teaching."

In overtime, the Dukes outscored the Eagles, 21-16, to gain the win.

Robert Mitchell led Duquesne with 20 points. Jackson and Grote each scored 19, and Kieron Achara added 17. Williams had a triple-double for Boston College with 19 points, 10 rebounds and 13 blocked shots. Sean Marshall had a game-high 30 points, and Tyrese Rice added 29.

"We were doing everything tonight, rebounding, defense and scoring," Jackson said.

The Dukes held a 37-34 lead at halftime, led by Mitchell's outside shooting.

"We're obviously lacking the leadership on the floor that we normally have, and because of that lack of leadership, it's the reason why you make mistakes during the course of the game," Boston College coach Al Skinner said.