McCANDLESS, PA - Freshman Maceo Austin scored 14 of his a career-high 18 points in the first half and Tavian Dunn-Martin added 19 of his game-high 25 points in the second to lead Duquesne to a 90-54 win over Columbia at Kerr Fitness Center on the campus of La Roche University Monday night.

Marcus Weathers had 16 points for the Dukes, who moved to 8-0, matching the school's best start since 1971-72.

Duquesne, which entered the game ranked sixth nationally in 3-point percentage defense and 12th in scoring defense, limited the Lions to 34.6 percent shooting, including 5-of-21 (.238) from 3-point while shooting a Keith Dambrot Era high 58.5 percent.

The Dukes, who assisted on 24 of 38 field goals, outscored the Lions 52-18 in the paint and 26-5 off turnovers. The 52 points in the paint were a Dambrot Era high.

DU, which never trailed, took its first 20-point lead at 41-20 on a Sincere Carry 3-pointer with 2:31 left in the first half. Weathers, who scored 12 in the first 20 minutes, added a dunk and layup to make it 45-21 at the half.

Dunn-Martin, who hit four of his five 3-pointers after the break, converted a four-point play in the first minute of the second half to make it 49-21.

The lead reached 30 on an Austin jumper with 10:44 left and 40 on a 3-pointer by Jake Harper with just over two minutes remaining.

Duquesne heads to Ellet High School in Akron, Ohio where it will meet Radford (3-5) on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 2:00 p.m. This is the second-straight year the Dukes and Highlanders are meeting in Akron. As part of the trip, DU will pay a visit to the I Promise elementary school which is supported by the LeBron James Family Foundation. James played for Duquesne head coach Keith Dambrot as a freshman and sophomore at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.

Admission for the Duquesne vs. Radford game is free.

NOTES

• This is the first time since 1971-72 (also 8-0) that a Duquesne team has opened 8-0.
• Duquesne, which received one vote in the Dec. 9 Associated Press Top 25 (it was the first time DU received a vote in the poll since Feb. 7, 2011), began the night as one of eight undefeated teams in NCAA Division I.
• The eight-game win streak is Duquesne's longest since Ron Everhart's 2010-11 Dukes reeled off 11 in a row from Dec. 31 through Feb. 2.
• Michael Hughes finished with 10 rebounds, four blocks and a career-high five assists.
• DU's 24 assists were one shy of the Dambrot Era high set in a 97-48 win over Delaware State on Dec. 9, 2017. Nine Dukes registered assists, with none having more than five. DU finished with just 10 turnovers.
• The 36-point margin of victory was Duquesne's second-largest under Dambrot (to the Delaware State game listed above).
• DU's .585 effort from the field - in addition to being a Dambrot Era high - was the program's best since it shot .627 in a 120-112 CBI win over Omaha in the first round of the 2016 CBI.
• The 52 points in the paint were Duquesne's most under Dambrot.
• Duquesne is now 26-8 in nonconference play, including 21-4 at home, under Dambrot.
• Duquesne never trailed ... DU's largest lead was 40 (90-50) with 1:53 left.