With Winter Storm Jonas burying the east coast in snow, Duquesne figured they would try to get home from a road game on Friday night before the worst of the storm hit.
The Dukes played at George Mason in an Atlantic 10 conference game on Friday afternoon (instead of Saturday) to try to avoid the storm, but the Dukes got stuck on the Pennsylvania Turnpike on the way home and spent Friday night stuck around 80 miles outside of Pittsburgh. Duquesne’s bus was stuck at around 9:15 p.m. EST and remained gridlocked among other snowed-in vehicles on the PA Turnpike.
During the overnight wait, Duquesne’s bus thankfully had power and heat and was stocked with water and some leftover pizza, Duquesne head coach Jim Ferry told ESPN.com’s Andy Katz. Ferry also said it was a memorable way to celebrate his 300th career victory as the Dukes got to at least take home the road win with an 86-75 win over George Mason.
During the wait, Duquesne had plenty of fun on Twitter, including jokes that the walk-ons would have to push the bus, as well as snow angels and nearly voting someone off the bus. Hopefully this isn’t as bad as when the Niagara women’s team was stuck on the road for over 30 hours during a Buffalo snow storm in 2014. Southern Illinois’ men’s team also had an issue traveling home in snow in 2014 as they were stranded on the team bus as well.
[embed]
Nick Foschia: known for three-pointer celebrations, Cleveland sports knowledge, and now snow angels #DUQSurvivor pic.twitter.com/o3g4OgyAhe
— Duquesne Basketball (@DuqMBB) January 23, 2016
[embed]
#DUQMBB stuck in traffic on the PA Turnpike. Manager Alex Kwong keeping the Dukes entertained with charades pic.twitter.com/qahihkUQE8
— Duquesne Basketball (@DuqMBB) January 23, 2016
[embed]
Desperate times call for desperate measures. #DUQMBB must vote someone off the bus. Who should it be? #DUQSurvivor
— Duquesne Basketball (@DuqMBB) January 23, 2016
[embed]
UPDATE: The walk ons got voted to push the bus pic.twitter.com/D6C2UI9RXc
— Duquesne Managers (@DuqMBBManagers) January 23, 2016
[/embed]
[embed]
Just stepped off the bus | at least 18" of snow outside the door pic.twitter.com/F0aSPZFbWK
— Duquesne Athletics (@GoDuquesne) January 23, 2016
Walking to HOPEFULLY have dominos drop off pizza from an overpass. 3/4 mile in 2+ feet of snow pic.twitter.com/tMfuT1d89K
— Duquesne Managers (@DuqMBBManagers) January 23, 2016
We're not in this alone! Dukes hanging out with middle schoolers from Iowa on the bus stuck next to us pic.twitter.com/8vBWa1x68c
— Duquesne Basketball (@DuqMBB) January 23, 2016