Jan. 31, 2007

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PITTSBURGH (AP) - Aaron Jackson scored on an inbounds play with 22 seconds remaining and resilient Duquesne squandered a 19-point lead in the second half, then recovered to upset Xavier 93-91 behind Robert Mitchell's 26 points on Wednesday night.

Xavier (15-7, 5-3), the Atlantic 10 preseason favorite, trailed 69-50 and was down by 16 with eight minutes remaining before going on a 23-7 run that seemed to deflate the underdog and inexperienced Dukes (8-11, 4-4). The Musketeers tied it at 91 on Derrick Brown's two free throws with 41 seconds remaining after trailing 91-82 with four minutes remaining.

But after Duquesne failed to score on five consecutive possessions, Jackson took the inbounds pass from Reggie Jackson under his own basket and laid it in to put Duquesne back on top. Xavier's Drew Lavender then missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer with three seconds to play.

Justin Cage rebounded but was tied up and the clock ran out before Xavier could get off a potential tying shot _ bringing the Dukes' reserve players, fans and students onto the floor to celebrate an unexpected victory over a team projected to reach the NCAA tournament.

"We knew they didn't want to come in here and lose this game," Mitchell said, a reference to how playing Duquesne has been the closest thing to an automatic victory in the Atlantic 10.

Duquesne is 3-1 since first-year coach Ron Everhart, playing with a depleted roster following the shootings of five players in September, scrapped his offense and defense and went with a frantic, full-court pressure system. The frenzied style has forced 97 turnovers in the four games, and Duquesne scored 30 points off Xavier's 21 turnovers.

"I didn't want our guys slowing down," Everhart said, after asked why the Dukes didn't slow the pace with such a big lead. "The guys have bought into this and we've got a chance to win this way. We have the ability to get teams back on their heels this way."

Xavier coach Sean Miller, a former Pitt player, seemed as stunned as anyone by the finish, chasing an official off the court _ apparently to protest the lack of a foul call on the final sequence.

"We got the offensive rebound, and bodies were flying, the ball's on the floor and there's three more bodies on the floor and then the game is over," Miller said. "But we had an offensive rebound late in the game and you'll take that."

Xavier has beaten Illinois, Villanova and Kansas State this season, only to lose to an inexperienced and undersized Duquesne team that lost its preseason opener to Division II Millersville. The Musketeers led until late in the first half, only to be outscored 34-13 over an eight-minute span to close the first half and open the second.

"We can compete for an A-10 championship playing this way," Aaron Jackson said.

Gary Tucker added 17 and Scott Grote had 13 for Duquesne despite missing two key 3-pointers down the stretch that helped get Xavier back into the game. Justin Doellman had 23 points, Cage had 17 points and 10 rebounds and Brandon Cole had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Musketeers.

Duquesne _ a 3-24 team a season ago _ has beaten Dayton, Temple and Xavier in the last eight days by averaging 94 points, the first time in school history it has beaten all three in same season. The Dukes have had losing records 19 of the last 20 seasons.

"Ron Everhart is the coach of the year in the Atlantic 10," Miller said. "To have the number of players that they had get shot, and to change the style and go out and win these three games ... I just wish we weren't one of them."