Feb. 25, 2004

Box Score

Duquesne snapped its five-game losing streak in impressive fashion with a convincing 93-56 win over Fordham at the Palumbo Center. The 37-point margin of victory was Duquesne's largest ever in an Atlantic 10 Conference game and was the Dukes' largest margin of victory in any game since an 83-45 win over Ohio Dominican on Nov. 29, 1983.

Elijah Palmer led five Duquesne players in double figures with 22 points. Jimmy Tricco hit a season-high 5-of-7 3-point attempts in adding 15 for DU. Michael Haynes led Fordham with 14.

Fordham led 10-7 before Duquesne went on a 31-4 run to build a 38-14 lead with 7:32 left. The Dukes held the Rams to just one field goal over an 8:43 span during the run. The Dukes, who led by as many as 30, finished the half up 50-25.

Duquesne, which didn't score more than 65 points during its five-game losing streak, scored its 67th point on a Jack Higgins layup with 11:56 left in the game. Duquesne maintained at least a 30-point lead over the last eight minutes of the game.

DU's previous largest margin of victory in an A10 game was +35 in a 109-74 win over St. Bonaventure on Feb. 23, 1989. Twelve different players scored as the Dukes assisted on 29 of 36 field goals.

Martin Osimani handed out a game-high eight assists for DU. Duquesne also dominated on the boards, outrebounding the Rams 45-32. Palmer led everyone with nine rebounds. Bryant McAllister scored 13 for Duquesne, and Kieron Achara was 4-of-4 from the field in extending his streak of double-digit scoring games to four with 11. Jack Higgins was the fifth Duke in double figures with 10.

The Dukes took advantage of 26 Fordham miscues to outscore the Rams 41-9 in points off turnovers.

NOTES

• Duquesne reached the 10 on-court win mark for the first time since the 1997-98 team went 11-19 (DU's 10-20 record last year included a forfeit win over St. Bonaventure)
• DU's five conference wins are also its most since the 1997-98 team went 5-11
• The Dukes are now 4-2 vs. the A10 East
• The 37-point margin of victory was Duquesne's largest since an 83-45 win over Ohio Dominican on Nov. 29, 1983 ... the margin was also DU's largest ever in an Atlantic 10 game eclipsing a 109-74 win (+35) over St. Bonaventure on Feb. 23, 1989
• The Dukes posted a season-high 29 assists on their season-best 36 field goals
• Jimmy Tricco's five 3-pointers were a season high ... he is now 10-of-17 from the arc in DU's last three games ... the last time Tricco hit at least four "3's" in a game was on Dec. 17 at Akron (4-of-11 from the arc)
• Kieron Achara (11 pts.) scored in double digits for the fourth consecutive game
• Duquesne is now 6-1 when Jack Higgins (10 pts.) scores in double digits

QUOTES

Duquesne head coach Danny Nee

"Obviously I was pleased. We created a lot of turnovers and were fortunate Fordham wasn't shooting the ball well. We were able to get some points on the board and play with some confidence. I thought everything permeated from our defense and rebounding. We were able to get a lot of layups on fast breaks because we rebounded. Fordham is undermanned right now. They have two starters out with injuries. Give coach Whittenberg a chance to bring in some recruiting classes in there."

On Jimmy Tricco who hit 5-of-7 3-pointers

"We had him in as much as we could the last few days shooting extra shots. He's my horse, I rest it, feed it and put it down on a couch if I have to. I saw him score 20 in a half last year. He's a shooter. He has to shoot."

Duquesne G/F Jimmy Tricco

"The coaches told me to keep shooting and it is starting to pay off. We put in a lot of extra time in on shooting at practice. I did a better job of getting myself open and just taking my shot in rhythm. When we'e patient and take care of the ball, everything seems to come together. Hopefully we can take this confidence into Xavier on Saturday."