Reno, Nev. – The Duquesne University men's basketball team closed out a two-game road swing Saturday, falling to Nevada, 78-75, at Lawlor Events Center. The Dukes slipped to 6-5 (.545) overall during the 2025-26 season.
 
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Tayshawn Comer converted with 1:13 remaining on a second-chance opportunity that gave the Wolf Pack a 72-71 edge after the Dukes had clawed out of an 11-point deficit in the second half to jump in front, 71-69. Junior forward Jakub Nečas buried a three-point as the shot clock was expiring to tie the game, 69-69, and after a steal at the top of the key on a pass from Comer, senior forward David Dixon pushed Duquesne on top with a dunk on the break with just under two minutes to play. On the ensuing possession for Nevada (8-3), Elijah Price was fouled, and he hit the front end of a pair at the free-throw line, but on the second Peyton White came down with the offensive rebound. A chance to reset the offense, the Wolf Pack capitalized with the layup from Comer, and Nevada went 6-for-6 at the free-throw line in the final 54 seconds to keep the Dukes at bay.
 
QUOTABLE
"Our defense allowed us to get back into the game," head coach Dru Joyce III said. "It was a step forward, even in a loss, because even though we struggled at times defensively tonight, we battled. I respect how we fought. You can really get after it and play good basketball, but it doesn't always result in a win. We had some chances. There are plays that stack up throughout the course of a game, and we just need to have a certain level of will and discipline to dig some of those out. We will. If you put us in that situation again we'll find a way to shine through."
 
FOLSOM PRISON BLUES
The opening segment of the contest saw Duquesne jump out to a 16-8 lead, which was capped by a driving layup from junior guard Jimmie Williams, who was one of three Dukes to reach double figures with 14 points. Nevada responded by scoring the next 15 points of the game to jump in front, 23-16, and after a three-pointer from redshirt senior guard Maximus Edwards looked to stem the tide, the Wolf Pack scored 10 more unanswered points to open up their biggest advantage, 33-19. Nevada still owned a 14-point cushion, 42-28, with 1:59 left in the first half, but the Dukes used a 7-0 burst to close out the first half down, 42-35. Senior guard Tarence Guinyard buried a triple, while following a steal Edwards hit a pair at the stripe with just over a second remaining.
 
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"We hit a tough stretch in the first half, but we closed it with a big three-pointer and then a steal from Max that gave us some momentum going into halftime," Joyce III said. "There's some phases where we have to be able to stop the run a little bit and keep the game closer. We have a chance to finish the non-conference strong, and then we're right in the thick of it with Atlantic 10 play. It's our job as a staff to prepare our team as best as possible for what's ahead."
 
BOUNCE BACK
Held to just one point at Boise State (Dec. 10), Guinyard found his groove Saturday against the Wolf Pack, leading all scorers in the game with 21 points while also adding three rebounds and a game-high five assists. He finished 5-for-11 from the field, with all five of his field goals coming from deep (5-for-8), and was 6-for-7 at the free-throw line. Edwards added 13 points off the bench for Duquesne on the strength of a 6-for-6 performance at the free-throw line as the Dukes as a team knocked down 90 percent (18-of-20) of their opportunities. Nečas, meanwhile, matched a personal standard for rebounds with 10 as he continues to knock on the door of registering his first career double-double. He scored seven points against Nevada and also dished out four assists.
 
NOTES
Using the same starting lineup the first 10 games of the season, Duquesne switched it up against the Wolf Pack as Dixon earned his first start of the 2025-26 campaign … Dixon scored six points before fouling out … Duquesne owned a 38-35 advantage on the glass, including 14-12 in offensive boards … Both teams finished with 16 second-chance points … The Wolf Pack were led by Comer with 16 points, while White scored 12 off the bench and Price added 10 points and nine rebounds … Nevada owned a 32-22 advantage in points in the paint as well as edges in points off turnovers, 18-15, and fastbreak points, 18-11 … Duquesne held Nevada to 34.3 percent (8-for-23) from the field in the second half … Nevada closed 24-for-32 (75%) at the free-throw line.
 
UP NEXT
The Dukes return home to close out the non-conference portion of their 2025-26 schedule, beginning Monday, Dec. 22, with a 7:00 p.m. tip against Canisius at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. Duquesne will also host Cleary Saturday, Dec. 27, at 2:00 p.m. before opening Atlantic 10 play.
 
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