Feb. 25, 2009
Box Score
AMHERST, MASS. - Bill Clark led five Duquesne players in double figures with 22 points as the Dukes snapped an 11-game losing streak at Massachusetts with a 94-77 win over the Minutemen at Amherst.
The win, DU's first at UMass since 1989, was also Duquesne's largest margin of victory on the road against the Minutemen in series history.
The victory also clinched at least a .500 conference record for the Dukes who are now 17-9 overall and 8-5 in Atlantic 10 play with three conference games remaining. UMass dropped to 10-16 overall and 5-8 in the A-10.
Clark, who added a career high eight assists, also tied his career high with four steals. Damian Saunders had 18 points - including four dunks - and Aaron Jackson added 17 points and nine assists as the Dukes assisted on 28 of 36 field goals.
"When you share the ball good things happen, and that's what happened tonight," said Duquesne head coach Ron Everhart. "We got contributions from just about everyone out there."
Eric Evans came off the bench to hit four 3-pointers in scoring 14 points. Jason Duty added 10 and B.J. Monteiro scored a season-high eight.
DU shot 57.1 percent to counteract 16 UMass 3-pointers. The Dukes outscored the Minutemen 42-20 in the paint and 13-0 in second chance points.
The Dukes, who led 46-35 at the half, built their lead to 21 with 13:22 left. UMass cut it to 10 with 4:44 to go before Duty answered with a 3-pointer followed by a Saunders dunk to build the lead back to 15. DU maintained at least a 14-point margin the rest of the way.
"They made a lot of 3-pointers," said Everhart. "The ones they did miss, we were able to rebound and get out in the open floor. We played with a lot of energy."
The win was Duquesne's fourth road conference win of the season, which ties the school record set in 1980-81 (4-3).
Duquesne begins a two-game homestand with Senior Day on Sunday, March 1 vs. Rhode Island. The game will follow a 1:00 women's game also between Duquesne and URI. Seniors from both the men's and women's teams will be recognized prior to each game. The men conclude the home season on Wednesday, March 4 against Saint Louis.
NOTES
• Duquesne, which is now 4-3 in Atlantic 10 road games, has tied the school record for conference road wins (4) set by the 1980-81 Dukes (4-3). DU has one A-10 road game remaining (at Dayton on March 7).
• The victory clinched at least a .500 record in league play for the Dukes who are 8-5 with home games vs. Rhode Island & Saint Louis and a game at Dayton remaining. It is just the seventh time DU will finish .500 (1994, 1986 & 1978) or better (1991, 1981 & 1980) in 32 conference seasons.
• Duquesne's 34 wins in the past two years (17-13 last year & 17-9 this year) are the most in back-to-back seasons since the Dukes posted 38 victories in 1980 (18-10) and 1981 (20-10).
• The win snapped an 11-game losing streak at UMass. DU's last win on the road vs. the Minutemen was on Jan. 14, 1989.
• Duquesne upped its road record to 8-5. The eight road wins are the most by a DU team since the 1970-71 Dukes went 8-2. All eight of DU's road wins have come by double-digit margins.
• With his 17 points, senior guard Aaron Jackson - who will be honored prior to Sunday's game vs. URI - tied former teammate Kieron Achara (1,240 from 2004-08) for 19th on Duquesne's all-time leading scorers' list.
