Dec. 21, 2007
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PITTSBURGH - Duquesne, coming off a 12-day break for final exams, used balanced scoring and 51.2 percent shooting in the second half to snap a three-game losing streak with a 99-80 victory over Saint Francis, Pa. at the Palumbo Center.
With the win, the Dukes (7-3) ensured their first winning non-conference record since 1995-96 with three non-league games remaining.
Aaron Jackson led five Dukes in double figures with 16 points. Kojo Mensah had 10 assists and Shawn James blocked seven shots to lead the DU attack.
The loss ended a two-game road winning streak for Saint Francis, Pa., which dropped to 3-8.
Duquesne, which shot 37.8 percent in the first half, saw its six-point halftime lead cut to three on a Cale Nelson 3-pointer less than two minutes into the second half.
DU maintained a single-digit lead until Saint Francis' Chris Berry was called for a technical foul which led to a pair of Mensah free throws followed by an Aaron Jackson 3-pointer that gave the Dukes a 64-52 lead with 13:29 to go.
Duquesne's lead never dipped below 15 from the 9:35 minute mark on. "I didn't think we came out with the kind of fire and intensity I'd have liked to have seen after the time off," said Duquesne head coach Ron Everhart. "As the game wore on, we were able to use their fatigue to our advantage. I have to give [Saint Francis coach] Bobby [Jones] credit. Saint Francis played hard and they stayed right in it."
Kieron Achara had 14 points for DU. Mensah and Damian Saunders had 12 and James finished with 11.
Duquesne shot 51.2 percent and had 17 assists and just three turnovers in outscoring the Red Flash 59-46 in the second half.
Devin Sweetney scored a game-high 18 to lead Saint Francis. Steve Profeta added 14 for the Red Flash who went 12-of-22 from the 3-point arc.
Duquesne finished with a season-low eight turnovers. DU's 13 blocked shots were two shy of the school record set earlier this season at Oakland.
"We've spent a lot of time over the past week working on cutting down our turnovers," said Everhart. "That is an area we really need to improve. I'm glad we were able to force 18 turnovers. The key was forcing turnovers that led to baskets for us."
Duquesne breaks for Christmas before returning to action against Robert Morris at the Palumbo Center on Fri., Dec. 28. The Department of Athletics will salute the 1976-77 NCAA Tournament team at the RMU game, as members of the `77 squad will be introduced at halftime. In addition, the 2007-08 Dukes will don special throwback jerseys in recognition of the 1976-77 team.
NOTES
• Duquesne's 7-3 start is the best since the 1993-94 NIT team opened with the same record. The last DU team to start a season 8-3 was the 1979-80 NIT squad which began 12-3.
• DU's seven pre-January wins are the most since 1979-80 (7-1). The last time a Duquesne team had eight wins prior to New Years Day was 1971-72 (8-0).
• Duquesne has now won 28 of the past 30 meetings with Saint Francis, including the past 15 at home.
• DU's 13 blocks were the second-most in school history, two shy of the school record of 15 set at Oakland on Nov. 20.
• Duquesne's previous low turnover total was 15 set vs. Niagara and tied at West Virginia.
• Light heavyweight boxer Roy Jones, Jr., who was in town to watch fellow Pensacola, Fla. native Gary Tucker, spoke to the team in the locker room following the game. Jones, Jr., who has played pick-up ball with Tucker back home, is a five-time world champion in four different weight classes.
