Nov. 8, 2008
Box Score
PITTSBURGH - Aaron Jackson scored 15 points in 17 minutes as Duquesne cruised to an 84-53 win over Seton Hill at the Palumbo Center in DU's final exhibition contest.
Freshman Eric Evans and sophomore Damian Saunders added 11 points and sophomore Bill Clark chipped in 10 as the Dukes saw 12 different players register field goals and 11 different players record double digit minutes of playing time.
"We got a chance to experiment a little tonight," said Duquesne coach Ron Everhart. "I think we have 10 guys that can help us this year, maybe more."
Saunders led the Dukes with five rebounds, four steals and three blocked shots in 23 minutes. Evans led the Red and Blue with seven assists while Clark added six.
Cody Boone, a 6-9 junior forward/center, led Seton Hill with 16 points, five rebounds, five assists and five blocked shots while senior guard Jordan Thomas tallied 13 points.
The Griffins opened the scoring with the first four points of the contest before a Saunders lay-up and three-pointer in succession gave the Dukes a 5-4 lead. Duquesne would make the score 11-8 on a Jackson trey at the 15:55 mark and never trailed the rest of the game. DU used a 17-10 run to end the half for a 43-27 advantage. Jackson led all scorers at the intermission with 11 points.
Duquesne scored the first eight points of the second half to expand its lead to 51-27. Seton Hill would get no closer than 21 points the rest of the game as the Dukes forced 34 Griffin turnovers.
"I was happy with how the young guys gave us energy at points in the game," said Everhart. "I also liked how we rebounded and how we shot the ball later in the game."
Duquesne opens the regular season at home versus High Point on Nov. 14.
NOTES: Duquesne's biggest lead was 32 points at 70-38 (9:02 remaining) and 72-40 (8:07 left) ... starters Aaron Jackson, Bill Clark and Damian Saunders combined for just 18 minutes in the second half after playing 43 in the first half ... Jason Duty scored all nine of his points on 3-5 shooting beyond the arc ... Seton Hill assisted on 17 of its 21 field goals ... all eight of Duquesne's freshmen saw playing time with six recording at least 10 minutes ... B.J. Monteiro started the game and Eric Evans entered at the 16:38 mark of the first half ... Pittsburgh Steelers Hall of Fame wide receiver John Stallworth spoke to the Dukes following the game ... Stallworth attended the game with freshman Chase Robinson's (Huntsville, Ala.) grandfather.
