Nov. 13, 2010

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PITTSBURGH - B.J. Monteiro and Rodrigo Peggau posted their first career double-doubles as Duquesne used a balanced attack to defeat outmanned Bluefield State (0-2) 110-67 in the Dukes' season opener at the Palumbo Center.

Monteiro, Sean Johnson and freshman Mike Talley led Duquesne with 17 points each. Bill Clark had 15, Peggau 14 and freshman T.J. McConnell added 13 as the Dukes never trailed in posting their highest point total in a season opener since a school record 129 in a 129-59 win over Howard on Nov. 9, 2007.

Duquesne led 50-24 at the half against the Division II Big Blues who had just seven players in uniform.

Julius Lang led Bluefield State with 22 points.

"It wasn't the prettiest effort in the world, but I guess we'll take it," said fifth-year Duquesne head coach Ron Everhart. "I was disappointed in our defensive effort in the second half, but I thought we shot it pretty well."

Eight players hit at least one 3-pointer for the Dukes who finished 16-of-39 from the arc. Talley led the way with five. Johnson, who had three 3-pointers, scored 15 of his career high-tying 17 in the second half.

Peggau had a game- and career-high 12 rebounds. Monteiro's 10 boards were also a career best.

"We had six in double figures and a couple of those guys didn't score in double digits in our last exhibition game," said Everhart. "I think Rod showed what he can do. He has been practicing like that. B.J. - with his 10 rebounds - really messed up now, because he'll have to keep the bar high."

Bluefield State, which shot 51.1 percent for the game, hit 17-of-25 second half field goal attempts, but the Big Blues couldn't gain any ground as Duquesne hit 61 percent of its shots in the second 20 minutes.

Duquesne reached the 100 point mark on a Talley 3-pointer with 3:45 left. Talley's three also gave the Dukes their largest lead of the game at 100-52.

Nine of the 10 players who saw action had at least one assist for Duquesne whose 30 assists tied for third-most in school history. Clark led the way with a career-high nine. McConnell added six along with a game-high four steals.

DU outrebounded Bluefield State 54-26 and outscored the Big Blues 24-2 in second chance points.

Duquesne returns to action on Friday, Nov. 19 at Robert Morris.

NOTES
• Bluefield State, which had seven players in uniform, was held without a field goal attempt for the first 4:52 ... the Big Blues' first field goal came at the 13:30 mark.

• B.J. Monteiro (17-10) and Rodrigo Peggau (14-12) posted their first career double-doubles ... Peggau hit his first career 3-pointer early in the second half in scoring his career-high 14 ... his previous high was nine set against Pitt last year ... Peggau's previous rebound high was seven done twice ... Monteiro's previous rebound high was nine against Richmond and Saint Louis last season.

• Sean Johnson scored 10 points in a 48 second span of the second half in tying his career scoring high of 17 set last year at Old Dominion.

• This was the ninth time 126 games that a Ron Everhart Dukes team has scored 100 or more ... only Red Manning (23 in 385 games) has coached more triple-digit scoring Duquesne teams.

• Duquesne was without returning starters Eric Evans (Oct. 27 foot surgery, out 6-8 weeks) and preseason first team All-Atlantic 10 forward Damian Saunders (suspension). Saunders will make his 2010-11 debut on Nov. 19 at Robert Morris.