Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University men's basketball team wrapped up a three-game homestand Friday at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse with a 77-58 triumph over Rider in its second game of the Cornhusker Classic. The Dukes improved to 4-1 (.800) overall during the 2023-24 season thanks to the victory.
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Mervin James buried a jumper in the paint to give the Broncs an early 6-5 lead before Duquesne used a 23-7 run to grab a 28-13 advantage with 7:32 left in the first half. Sophomore
David Dixon pushed the Dukes in front with a hook shot and Duquesne used a barrage from beyond the arc to extend its lead. Guards
Kareem Rozier and
Dae Dae Grant each hit a pair of three-pointers while
Hassan Drame and
Jakub Necas also connected from international waters for the Dukes. Grant also converted a three-point play with a driving layup and subsequent foul by JT Langston, Jr., to score nine points during the burst. In the first half, Grant scored 15 points, shooting 4-for-8 from three.
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"We played hard again," head coach
Keith Dambrot said. "A little inconsistent. We played four games in eight days, which is hard. We're about 60 percent of about what we could be. We have a long way to go yet. We're just trying to survive and advance. We'll take the win and move forward. I think we're good in transition. We have to figure out a way to get into transition even more, but our halfcourt game has to improve. How great we can become will be determined by how we can score the ball inside and who is going to do it. Right now we're hit and miss a little bit there. If we can improve there and to continue to improve our system knowledge, we can get a lot better."
BLOCK PARTY
Forward
Halil Barre and Dixon each registered four blocks as Duquesne rejected 14 shots in the victory, one off the single-game school record of 15 that has been accomplished three times previously, including once under Dambrot. Seven different Dukes finished with a block, with Necas adding a pair of his own. In 32 career games, Dixon now owns 35 blocks, including a team-high 11 through five games of the 2023-24 season.
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"I take it upon myself to be that anchor that the team needs in the front court," Dixon said. "I take pride in my defense. Nothing ever changes with that. I've done that for so long that it comes easy to me. I'm happy I was able to do my job tonight and do it well. I'm ready to put it on the line for anything. I like playing basketball. It's what I like to do."
HEATING UP
Grant had his best shooting night of the 2023-24 season Friday, finishing 7-for-15 from the field, including 6-for-12 from beyond the arc, in eclipsing the 20-point plateau for the third time this year with a game-high 23 points. He also added four rebounds and three assists. It marks the seventh time in Grant's two seasons with the Dukes he has hit at least five three-pointers in a game, a stretch in which Duquesne has posted a record of 5-2 (.714). As a team the Dukes finished with 12 three-pointers against Rider (1-3), one off their season high and the third time in five games to open the year Duquesne has connected for at least 10 triples.
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"Keep chopping wood," Grant said. "We know that, at the end of the day, we're playing against ourselves. Practice is going to be harder than the games, which helps the game become easier. We know who we are and what we do. We just have to continue to gel together."
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Duquesne continues to share the basketball, with eight different players recording an assist as the Dukes posted 15 assists on their 26 field goals. Rozier joined Grant in posting three dimes, while off the bench
Kailon Nicholls, Necas and
Fousseyni Drame each posted a pair. Senior guard
Jimmy Clark III scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half to also reach double figures while posting five rebounds and two steals. Both Grant and Clark III have each scored in double figures in each of the first five games of the season for the Dukes.
UP NEXT
Duquesne wraps up the Cornhusker Classic Wednesday, Nov. 22, traveling to Lincoln, Neb., to take on Nebraska at Pinnacle Bank Arena in an 8:00 p.m. ET tip.
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