Jan. 5, 2010

PITTSBURGH - Duquesne University guard/forward Melquan Bolding (Mount Vernon, N.Y./Notre Dame (Mass.) Prep), who underwent surgery on Nov. 17 to repair a fractured right wrist, has been cleared to resume practicing with the team.

Bolding, who has missed 13 games, received the news following a Tuesday morning examination.

"I'm exicted that Melquan has been cleared," said Duquesne head coach Ron Everhart. "He's made great progress and hopefully that will continue."

The 6-3 sophomore was injured on a hard foul four minutes into Duquesne's 85-62 season-opening win over Nicholls State on Nov. 13. Bolding went on to score a game-high 25 points, one shy of his career high, in 36 minutes.

Bolding, a member of the 2008-09 Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team, is Duquesne's third-leading returning scorer (9.9 ppg.). He was instrumental in DU's run to the Atlantic 10 Championship title game last season, when he averaged 14.0 ppg. in four tournament games in becoming just the tenth freshman in Atlantic 10 history to earn a spot on the All-Championship team.

Duquesne (9-5, 0-0) opens Atlantic 10 play tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. versus Richmond (11-4, 0-0) at the Palumbo Center.