Box Score Dec. 30, 2014

Box Score

PITTSBURGH - Micah Mason scored all of his team-high 14 points in the second half - including four free throws in the final 14 seconds - to lead Duquesne to a 78-72 win over Texas-Pan American at Palumbo Center.

Sophomore center Darius Lewis scored a career-high 11 points and blocked five shots in his first career start and Dominique McKoy posted season highs for points (12) and rebounds (9) for the Dukes who had six double-digit scorers for the first time since November of 2011.

"If our frontcourt plays like that - to get the points, rebounds and blocked shot total - that's huge for us," said Duquesne head coach Jim Ferry. "We always want to play inside-out first. When those guys play this way it helps us flow better."

Janari Joesaar led UTPA with a game-high 22 points.

Duquesne, which led by nine with 3:08 left, saw its lead cut to three when Joesaar turned DU's 22nd, and final, turnover into a layup with 24 seconds left.

The Broncs could get no closer as Jordan Stevens, who finished with 11 off the bench, hit a pair of free throws.

UTPA twice pulled to within four, but both times Mason responded with a pair of free throws, the last two coming with seven seconds left.

There were five ties and six lead changes in the first half that ended with the Dukes up 41-34. DU, which trailed by seven just over six minutes into the game, went up for good when McKoy followed a three-point play with his second dunk of the half to make it 28-25.

"One of the biggest keys was Domo McKoy," said Ferry. "He played the way he did last year. His energy really sparked us."

Derrick Colter, who scored all 11 of his points in the first half, hit three free throws with five seconds left to give the Dukes their seven-point lead.

Freshman TySean Powell scored nine of his 13 in the second half. He and Stevens helped the Dukes outscore the UTPA bench 26-11.

Duquesne, which shot 55.3 percent and outrebounded UTPA 40-27, was outscored 25-11 in points off turnovers.

The Dukes held the Broncs to 38.1 percent shooting, including 6-of-22 from the 3-point arc.

"I think we're getting better defensively," said Ferry. "Our defensive field goal percentage compared to last year is significantly better. We still have to guard the line better although we did it today - and rebounding. If we can do those things, we can play with anybody in the league.

"The thing that is concerning is our youth, we're such a young team," continued Ferry. "Today it was turnovers. It was time/score situations. The main focus has to be on getting better every day. With a young group, every day is an experience and every day is getting these guys to understand what it is to play at this level."

DU opens Atlantic 10 play on Saturday, Jan. 3 at Dayton. The game, set for a 1:02 p.m. tip, will be televised nationally by NBCSN.

NOTES

• The starting frontcourt of Dominique McKoy (5-of-5, 12 points) and Darius Lewis (4-of-5, 11 points) was a combined 9-of-10 from the field ... a third frontcourt player, freshman TySean Powell, was 5-of-6 in adding 13 off the bench.

• Duquesne's starting backcourt of Micah Mason and Derrick Colter, which entered the game a shooting a combined .504 from the 3-point arc, went 4-of-7 ... Mason, who finished with 14 points was 2-of-4 from 3-point and Colter, who added 11, was 2-of-3 ... Colter, who entered the game leading the nation in 3-point percentage is now at .577 from the arc (30-of-52) for the season.

• Duquesne is 5-1 this season when scoring 70 or more.

• This was DU's first game with six double digit scorers since an 84-65 win over Louisiana-Lafayette on Nov. 26, 2011.

• DU which had a season-low nine turnovers Sunday vs. Maryland Eastern Shore, finished with a season-high 22 ... the previous high was 15 at Abilene Christian.

• DU which attempted a season-low seven free throws vs. Maryland Eastern Shore, went 21-of-27 from the line.

• UTPA's largest lead was seven with 13:30 left in the first half ... Duquesne's largest was 11 the last of which came with 5:31 to go ... there were five ties and six lead changes before the Dukes took the lead for good with 5:20 left in the first half.