Duke’s overtime loss to Stephen F. Austin is the Bahamas’ gain. This is why.
Top-ranked Duke’s shocking 85-83 overtime home loss to Stephen F. Austin late Tuesday night turned out to be a blessing for the Bahamas.
Nate Bain, the Stephen F. Austin senior who hit the game-winning layup as time expired, is from Freeport, Bahamas. His family home and the church where his father was minister were both nearly destroyed by Hurricane Dorian in September. Stephen F. Austin’s compliance office set up a GoFundMe page on Sept. 17, and that fund went viral after the upset win.
The fund had received $2,010 from 26 donors before the game. By 4 p.m. Wednesday, more than $72,800 had been raised by 2,000 donors, far surpassing the initial $25,000 goal.
Many of the donations were from college basketball fans who wrote messages such as:
“Duke fan here. Nice win. Glad to support the cause.”
“Happy to help those in need and, as a UNC alumnus, congrats on the win over dook.”
“Thank you for beating Duke. UNC Class of 1988.”
“You and your offspring will never, ever have to pay for a meal in Chapel Hill. Go Heels!”
Duke’s loss was the first at home to a nonconference team since 2000, a streak of 150 games. Six players on the Duke roster weren’t born the last time the Blue Devils lost at home to a nonconference team.
After the game, as his teammates celebrated on the Cameron Indoor Arena floor, Bain gave an emotional interview to Fox Sports South.
“I’m trying real hard not to get emotional,” Bain said, fighting back tears. “My family lost a whole lot this year. Whoo, I’m not going to cry on TV. My family lost a whole lot this year. I’m just playing this game for them. Just playing for my SFA family, and my family back home in the Bahamas. I just want to make my country proud.”
This story was originally published November 27, 2019 at 11:35 AM.