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Lehigh, Florida Gulf Coast tweet congratulations to Mercer on win over Duke

Bob Hoffman

It was hard to live up to the excitement that was Thursday, with four overtime games on the first day of the 2014 NCAA Tournament. On Friday afternoon, Mercer, the No. 14 seed in the Midwest Region -- nicknamed the Bracket of Death -- upset No. 3 Duke, 78-71, delivering the most shocking result of the tournament so far.

In 2010, Duke won the national title. Since then, Coach K and Co. has had two Round of 64 exits. The first being in 2011 when Patriot League champion Lehigh, led by C.J. McCollum, ended the Blue Devils’ title defense. After Friday’s thrilling win, Lehigh sent this message to the Bears:

Welcome to the club @MercerBears. #BeatDukepic.twitter.com/Th0g2hl0k5

— Lehigh Athletics (@LehighSports) March 21, 2014

Mercer had the talent to be in the NCAA tournament last year, but the Bears were upset in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament. That team would go on and become Dunk City with a run to the Sweet 16 in 2013. Florida Gulf Coast also sent along its praise:

Well played, @MercerMBB.

— FGCU Men’s Hoops (@FGCU_MBB) March 21, 2014

Mercer’s improbable win comes one day shy of the one-year anniversary of Florida Gulf Coast’s win over Georgetown. The Eagles emerged on the national scene with dunk after dunk. Remember who gave them that nickname?

Apparently FGCU is located in Dunk City, Florida

— CollegeBasketbllTalk (@CBTonNBC) March 23, 2013

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