BIMINI, BAHAMAS - Duquesne held off fast-closing Air Force, 69-63, in the second round of the Junkanoo Jam at Gateway Christian Academy in Bimini, Bahamas Thursday night to up its record to 5-0.

The Dukes, who led by as many as 22 in the second half, saw Air Force cut it to five in the final minute, but Sincere Carry hit one-of-two free throws with five seconds left to seal it.

DU, whose 5-0 start is the program's best since 2007-08, had four players in double figures led by Marcus Weathers with 12. Michael Hughes and Maceo Austin had 11 points each and Carry finished with 10.

DU hit eight of its first 11 shots in jumping out to a 20-5 lead. Freshman Ashton Miller, who finished with a season-high eight points, hit back-to-back 3-pointers to give the Dukes a 39-22 lead at the half.

Duquesne held Air Force to 28 percent shooting, including 0-of-8 from 3-point, in the opening 20 minutes.

Duquesne scored the first five points out of the half to go up by 22, before Air Force - which shot 51.7 percent in the second half - made it 57-45 on a 3-pointer with under eight minutes to go.

The Falcons banked in a 3-pointer to make it 57-50 before Weathers ended the run with an emphatic dunk off a pass from Carry. Baylee Steele followed with a 3-pointer to put the Dukes up 62-50.

Air Force, which went 5-of-9 from the arc in the second half, hit from deep to pull within nine.

It was a seven-point game when Steele corralled a big rebound off a missed 3-pointer at the shot clock horn. DU ran the clock down again and this time Carry banked in a jumper at the horn to make it 66-57 with 1:36 left.

Air Force had a chance to cut it to four with just over one minute remaining, but had a 3-pointer go halfway down before rolling out.

The Dukes, who shot 51.9 percent, outscored the Falcons 38-18 in the paint and 12-1 in second chance points.

Duquesne concludes the three-game Junkanoo Jam vs. Loyola Marymount on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. (streamed live by FloHoops).

NOTES

• Duquesne's 5-0 start is its best since the 2007-08 team opened 6-0.
• Duquesne is now 23-8 in nonconference play under Keith Dambrot.
• Michael Hughes, who had one point in eight minutes before fouling out yesterday vs. Indiana State, bounced back with 11 points, nine rebounds and five blocks in 25 minutes.  
• Marcus Weathers added eight rebounds to go along with his 12 points. The interior combination of Weathers (6-of-8) and Hughes (5-of-7) was a combined 11-of-15 from the field.
• Sincere Carry finished with 10 points, six rebounds and five assists. The six boards - all of which came in the first half - were one shy of his career high.
• Lamar Norman Jr., who came off the bench to score nine points yesterday (3-of-5 from 3-point), went 2-of-7 from the arc in adding eight points.
• Ashton Miller hit his first two career 3-pointers in scoring a season-high eight points off the bench.
• Air Force led once at 1-0 ... Duquesne's largest lead was 22, the last of which came with 14:48 left ... Duquesne took the lead for good Sincere Carry's 3-pointer 1:02 into the game ... Air Force led for 22 seconds ... Duquesne led for 38:58.