Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University bowling team dropped a 2-1 decision to No. 16 FDU Sunday in the final of the 2025 NEC Championship in Hamilton, N.J., at Hamilton Lanes. The Dukes, making their first appearance in the championship mega match, slipped to 58-47 (.552) overall during the 2024-25 season.
TRADITIONAL
Duquesne, which had won each of its three previous games in traditional action in the NEC Championship leading into Sunday, fell behind the Knights, 1-0, with a single-pin setback. FDU earned a 1,066-1,065 win over the Dukes to grab an early lead in the mega match.
QUINT BAKER
Moving to Quint Baker, the Dukes earned a 267-204 win in game one to grab a 63-pin lead and built on their advantage in game two thanks to a 181-167 victory. FDU closed to within 50 pins courtesy of a 196-169 triumph in game three, a cushion that remained after game four due to the two teams bowling to a 215-215 deadlock. Duquesne sealed the victory to tie the series, 1-1, by earning a 258-203 win in game five to post a 1,090-985 victory in the five-game Baker.
BACK AND FORTH WE GO
Moving to the deciding third game, Duquesne came out hot, grabbing a 2-0 edge thanks to a 279-194 win in game one, followed by a 204-195 triumph in game two. The Knights rallied, tying the best of seven, 2-2, by winning game three by 12 pins (204-192) and game four, 206-168. The Dukes steadied, earning a 194-170 win in game five prior to FDU forcing a game seven with a 247-214 victory in game six. The seventh game was an all-timer, with the two teams knocking down 204 pins to close the series tied, 3.5-3.5.
MODIFICATIONS
FDU and Duquesne went to a modified roll-off since seven games wasn't enough to determine a winner in game three, with both teams using five bowlers to compete in frames 6-10, with each lineup using one bowler per frame. The Dukes registered strikes on each of their first two rolls, but the Knights were able to keep pace and eventually earned the win, 4.5-3.5, to secure the 2025 NEC Championship, the program's sixth, as well as the automatic bid to the 2025 NCAA Championship.
UP NEXT
Duquesne waits to learn if it earns an at-large bid to the 2025 NCAA Championship, as the Selection Show will be streamed live on
NCAA.com at 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 26. Duquesne will serve as the host for one of the NCAA Regional sites, with competition set for Friday, April 4, and Saturday, April 5, at AMF Mt. Lebanon Lanes. It marks the third of four consecutive years the Dukes serve as host, while in
2027 Duquesne will host the NCAA Championship.
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