June 20, 2003

Cross-town rival Pittsburgh's first visit to the A.J. Palumbo Center in over a decade highlights the Duquesne University men's basketball non-conference schedule released today. The Pitt game, set for December 3, is one of eight home non-conference games for head coach Danny Nee's Dukes.

DU opens the season on Tuesday, November 25 at home against Prairie View A&M, before hosting 2002-03 NIT participant Siena on Saturday, November 29. The Duquesne/Pitt game follows on Wednesday, December 3.

The Duquesne/Pitt series, which dates back to 1932, had been played at Pittsburgh's Mellon Arena for 12 consecutive seasons prior to moving back on campus to Pitt's Petersen Events Center last year. This year, it's Duquesne's turn to host at its on-campus site. In the only other meeting between the two at the Palumbo Center, Duquesne defeated the Panthers 80-76 on Dec. 19, 1988.

Other non-conference opponents scheduled to visit the Palumbo Center are Loyola, Md., George Mason, Robert Morris, Cornell and Ohio.

The Dukes' first road game will be Saturday, December 13 at West Virginia. DU will also travel to Akron on December 17, and head to Minneapolis to face Big Ten's Minnesota Golden Gophers in a pre-Christmas game on Monday, December 22.

The 11 non-conference opponents averaged 15.1 wins last season, with three of the 11 making post season appearances: Siena (21-11) advanced to the second round of the NIT, Pitt (28-5) made it to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 and Minnesota (19-14) saw its season ended in the NIT semifinals.

2003-04 DUQUESNE MEN'S BASKETBALL
NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Game times to be announced
Atlantic 10 schedule to be released this fall

EXHIBITION

Date            Day     Opponent                SiteNov.    6       Thur.   Sports Tours (exhib.)   PittsburghNov.    16      Sun.    EA SPORTS (exhib.)      Pittsburgh
REGULAR SEASON
Nov.    25      Tues.   PRAIRIE VIEW A&M        PittsburghNov.    29      Sat.    SIENA                   PittsburghDec.    3       Wed.    PITT                    PittsburghDec.    6       Sat.    LOYOLA, MD.             PittsburghDec.    13      Sat.    at West Virginia        Morgantown, W.Va.Dec.    17      Wed.    at Akron                Akron, OhioDec.    20      Sat.    GEORGE MASON            PittsburghDec.    22      Mon.    at Minnesota            Minneapolis, Minn.Dec.    28      Sun.    ROBERT MORRIS           PittsburghDec.    31      Wed.    CORNELL                 PittsburghJan.    7       Wed.    OHIO                    Pittsburgh