Dec. 28, 2003
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ROBERT MORRIS (3-4) at DUQUESNE (2-6)
Sunday, Dec. 28, 2003 - 4:00 p.m. (EST)
Pittsburgh, Pa. -- A.J. Palumbo Center (6,200)TELEVISION: None
DUQUESNE RADIO: KQV-AM (1410) with Ray Goss & George Von Benko
INTERNET BROADCAST: www.redzonemedia.com
DUQUESNE RETURNS HOME FOR TWO
Duquesne (2-6) coming off its third overtime loss in as many road games returns to the Palumbo Center to face cross-town rival Robert Morris on Sunday, Dec. 28 at 4:00 p.m. The Dukes, who suffered a 74-69 OT loss at Minnesota on Dec. 23 will be looking to put an end to a four-game losing streak. Robert Morris, which is 0-4 on the road, defeated Maryland-Eastern Shore 70-63 on Dec. 21 in its last game prior to breaking for Christmas. Following the Robert Morris game, the Dukes will complete the 2003 portion of their schedule with a home New Year's Eve game vs. Cornell (Noon tip).
DUKES vs. COLONIALS
This is 14th game between Duquesne and Robert Morris with all 13 previous meetings coming between December of 1980 and December of 1995 ... DU, winner of the last five matchups, holds a 10-3 edge in the series ... in games played at the Palumbo Center, the Dukes lead 3-1 ... the last time the two met was on Dec. 16, 1995 at the Palumbo Center with Duquesne taking a 79-72 decision ... RMU's last series win came on Dec. 22, 1990 at the Palumbo Center by an 85-81 score ... the Colonials are led by third-year coach Mark Schmidt ... Schmidt is familiar with Duquesne having served as an assistant coach at Xavier from 1994-01.
FAMILIAR FACE
This is the first time Duquesne head coach Danny Nee is facing his former team. Nee, the third-year coach of the Dukes, was the head coach at Robert Morris during the 2000-01 season. RMU has four players remaining from Nee's '01 squad: guard Liviti Clarke, forward Bobby Davenport, forward Chaz McCrommon and forward Aaron Thomas.
DUQUESNE LATELY
Duquesne, despite its 2-6 record, is being outscored by an average of just 2.1 points per game ... senior F Elijah Palmer is averaging 18.0 ppg. and shooting 65.9 percent from the field during DU's current four-game losing streak ... Palmer's season shooting percentage stands at 58.1% ... PG Martin Osimani's 6.00 assist per game average is the best by a Duquesne player since Norm Nixon averaged a school record 6.00 apg. during both his freshman and junior seasons (1973-74 & 1975-76) ... Osimani has had at least four assists in every game this year ... 6-5 soph. G Jack Higgins, a 2003 mid-term transfer from Cleveland State, saw his first extended action of the season at Minnesota and responded with 8 points in 13 minutes ... sophomore G Bryant McAllister has scored in double digits in four of DU's last five games ... in his last three he is averaging 16.3 ppg. on 51.4% shooting ... senior G Jimmy Tricco has struggled from the field in his last two games, shooting 21.0% (4-of-19) including 1-of-10 from 3-point (9 total points).
DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY TENTATIVE STARTERS| # | P | Name | Ht | Yr | Pts | Reb | G/GS | Hometown | Quick Facts |
| 4 | F | Elijah Palmer | 6-7 | Sr. | 16.6 | 8.0 | 8/8 | Marshall, Mo. | Team leading scorer and rebounder; shooting 58.1% from the field |
| 41 | C | Ron Dokes | 6-8 | Sr. | 6.4 | 3.3 | 8/8 | South Bend, Ind. | 19 double-digit scoring games, has scored just 8 pts. in last 3 games |
| 44 | G | Jimmy Tricco | 6-8 | Sr. | 11.9 | 3.4 | 8/8 | Phoenix, Ariz. | Has hit four 3-pointers in a game four times |
| 22 | G | Bryant McAllister | 6-3 | So. | 10.8 | 3.0 | 8/7 | Pittsburgh, Pa. | Averaging 16.3 ppg. (51.4% from field) in DU's last 3 games |
| 5 | F | Martin Osimani | 6-4 | Jr. | 4.4 | 3.5 | 8/8 | Montevideo, Uruguay | 6.0 assist per game average best since Norm Nixon in '74 & '76 |
OFF THE BENCH| # | P | Name | Ht | Yr | Pts | Reb | G/GS | Hometown | Quick Facts |
| 33 | F | Jon Pawlak | 6-9 | Jr. | 8.1 | 4.1 | 8/1 | Natrona Heights, Pa. | Career high 19 points at WVU; averaging 21.3 minutes/g. |
| 42 | C | Kieron Achara | 6-9 | Fr. | 3.8 | 3.5 | 8/0 | Stirling, Scotland | Leads team with 8 blocked shots in 15.0 minutes per game |
| 23 | G | Jack Higgins | 6-5 | So. | 5.0 | 1.0 | 2/0 | Pittsburgh, Pa. | Scored 8 points in 13 minutes off bench at Minnesota |
| 20 | G | Ryan Tricco | 6-4 | So. | 3.6 | 1.9 | 8/0 | Phoenix, Ariz. | First-year transfer (Mesa CC); team-high 10 pts. off bench vs. Pitt |
| 32 | G | Tyler Bluemling | 6-2 | Jr. | 0.9 | 0.3 | 8/0 | Pittsburgh, Pa. | Has played in 59 career games; averaging 6.8 minutes per game |
