Philadelphia, Pa. – The Duquesne University men's basketball team closed play in the Villanova Challenge Saturday, falling to the host Wildcats in its first road game of the 2025-26 campaign, 87-77, at Finneran Pavilion. The Dukes dipped to 3-1 (.750) overall during the 2025-26 season.  
 
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Senior guard Tarence Guinyard gave the Dukes a 25-20 edge at the 8:30 mark of the first half with a driving layup, but the Wildcats came back to tie it, 25-25, on their first three-pointer of the game with 7:21 left in the first half from Devin Askew. Guinyard answered on the next trip down for the Dukes with a triple of his own, but a 20-7 run over the last six minutes of the first half allowed Villanova to grab a 45-35 advantage at halftime. Bryce Lindsay started the run with a three-pointer to knot the score, 28-28, and Acaden Lewis provided a driving layup to push the Wildcats on top. Askew would again hit from deep for Villanova, extending the advantage to 33-28, and a three-point play with 3:10 left before the break from Lindsay gave the Wildcats their first double-digit edge, 41-31. Lindsay scored nine points during the burst late in the first half to power Villanova.

ON THE MOVE
Villanova (3-1) and Duquesne opened the second half trading three-pointers, with the two teams combining for five in the opening five minutes. The Dukes kept the pressure up, forcing the Wildcats to call timeout with 13:09 to play after closing to within 59-53 after a layup from junior guard Jimmie Williams on a dime from Guinyard. Out of the break, Villanova had two opportunities after an offensive rebound, and Malachi Palmer capitalized for the Wildcats, burying a three-pointer to push the lead to 62-53. The triple ignited a 7-0 burst that opened up a 66-53 lead for Villanova and forced the Dukes to call timeout.

30-FOR-30
Guinyard put forth an offensive burst for Duquesne, reaching double figures for the fourth consecutive game to open the season and becoming the first member of the Dukes to reach the 30-point plateau in two years. He finished 10-of-15 from the floor, including 5-for-6 from beyond the arc, and 5-for-7 at the free-throw line to garner game-high honors in scoring with 30 points. He also added three rebounds and four assists. It marks the first 30-point effort by a member of the Dukes since former guard Dae Dae Grant (2022-24) scored 31 in an 81-66 win over Saint Louis at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse Feb. 20, 2024.

💯
Senior forward David Dixon checked into the game at the 15:34 mark of the first half, marking his 100th career game at Duquesne. One of just four players in the Atlantic 10 to spend his entire career with one program, Dixon is the conference's active leader in games played. He finished with two points and a rebound before fouling out with 12:02 to play.

NOTES
Duquene set a season high in three-pointers (12) while Villanova knocked down eight… Graduate student forward John Hugley IV was held scoreless in the first half after being saddled with three fouls … Each of the three main frontcourt players for Duquesne in the rotation, which include junior forward Jakub Nečas and Dixon, all entered halftime with three fouls … In eight minutes of action, freshman guard Dom Aekins scored nine points on 4-of-5 shooting, including seven points in the first half that helped keep Duquesne in front … Lewis led Villanova with 19 points on the strength of a 9-for-13 performance at the free-throw line … The Wildcats owned a 41-29 advantage in rebounding, including a 21-12 edge on the offensive glass.
 
UP NEXT
The Dukes will host Loyola (Md.) at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse Wednesday, Nov. 19, in a 7:00 p.m. tip, opening a stretch of four of their next five games at home.
 
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