Duquesne snapped a two-game losing streak by taking out Loyola Chicago on Wednesday night.
But that wasn't the takeout that had the entire sports world buzzing.
A food delivery person wearing a yellow jacket tried to walk onto the court early in the second half of Duquesne’s eventual victory over Loyola Chicago at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. The moment quickly went viral on social media and among national outlets, such as ESPN, whose ESPN+ platform was broadcasting the game.
Duquesne coach Keith Dambrot said it was the “craziest thing he’s ever seen.” And that’s coming from someone who’s seen this before.
When he was an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan, some friends of the team had ice cream delivered to the opposing coach in the middle of the game.
“I really didn't see it, that's how crazy it is,” Dambrot said of Wednesday night’s delivery. “I just saw the video after the game. Our guys were dying laughing in [the locker room]. Guy had a job to do. He did his job well.”
Dukes forward Austin Rotroff intercepted a pass between Loyola players Philip Alston and Jacob Hutson with 16:23 left in the game. Behind the play, the delivery person tried to come onto the court with a bag and fountain drink from McDonald’s.
One of the officials saw the man try to come onto the court and waved him away.
He started walking back on the court once again looking to deliver the food when the officials had to stop the game.
“I didn't see it at all,” Rotroff said. “I know I was on the court because I had a bunch of people texting me about it because like I was in the clip, but I didn't notice it in the game at all. I’ll have to rewatch the footage and see what he could have done better.”
Security guards ushered the man back up to the concourse level. The delivery person was then united with his customer and the pair walked from one corner of the stands to the other.
The video board then showed the student with the food cheering as the McDonald’s had finally been delivered. Both the student and delivery person both appeared to leave the arena after.
Tevin Brewer didn’t even know it happened. When asked about it in the postgame press conference, he replied with, “What happened?”
A member of the press slid his phone to show him the video that had both Brewer and Rotroff laughing.
“Ah, that’s crazy,” Brewer said. “I didn’t see that.”
The pair combined for 18 points in Duquesne’s 72-58 win.
The moment quickly garnered national attention, and Uber Eats itself chimed in.
