Pittsburgh, Pa. – The Duquesne University men's basketball team opened the home portion of its Atlantic 10 schedule Saturday, falling to VCU, 93-80, at UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. The Dukes slipped to 9-6 (.600) overall during the 2025-26 season, including 1-1 (.500) in the A-10.
 
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Jadrian Tracey converted in the lane to open the scoring in the second half to give the Rams a 48-34 advantage, but Duquesne responded with a 14-2 run to close to within 50-48 less than three-and-a-half minutes after the break. Junior guard Jimmie Williams was fouled on a three-point attempt and converted all three to open the surge, while senior guard Tarence Guinyard connected from deep. The Dukes also went to the rim, getting layups from Williams, senior forward David Dixon and junior forward Jakub Nečas, who also was true on a pair of free throws to make it a one-possession game. VCU (11-4 | 2-0 Atlantic 10) was able to withstand the run, with Michael Belle connecting on a floater to stem the tide. Belle also converted in the lane off an offensive rebound to extend the lead to 54-50 for the Rams before redshirt senior guard Maximus Edwards connected from the top of the key to help Duquesne trim its deficit to 54-53. The Dukes couldn't grab the lead, however, with a 9-0 spurt allowing VCU to push its advantage back to double digits, 63-53, with 10:23 to go.
 
QUOTABLE
"We did a good job coming out in the second half," head coach Dru Joyce III said. "We just weren't able to carry through the momentum. We never bounced back from a mistake or a turnover, and it led to them going on another run. We have to do a better job defensively guarding the ball. They do a great job attacking the rim and getting to the free-throw line, and we made some undisciplined plays. Some of the fouls we committed, we've come a long way since committing those types of fouls. We didn't do a good enough job of protecting the paint. We'll be ready to go in our next game."
 
COMET SHOWER
Williams scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half for the Dukes, hitting six of his eight shots from the field, including 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, while also going 5-for-5 from the free-throw line. He also added two rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals but picked up two quick fouls in the first half. Williams has reached double figures in 10 consecutive games thanks to his performance against the Rams, extending the longest streak of the season by a Duquesne student-athlete. Guinyard, who led all scorers in the contest with 22 points and also added five assists, hit double figures in each of the first eight games of the year for the Dukes.
 
QUOTABLE
"(Williams) was good when he was on the floor, he was effective," Joyce III said. "He just wasn't on the floor very much. I thought he got hit with some ticky-tacks, and it's unfortunate because I think he's one of the best guards in this entire conference. To get hit with the fouls he did consistently, that's a rough one. You don't want your key players picking up those types of fouls. He'll be better. Games go that way sometimes. In a game like today where you needed your secondary ball handler because of their pressure from all over the place, it really caused some struggles for us."
 
BENCH SPARK
VCU shot 60 percent (15-of-25) from the field in the second half and 53.7 percent (29-for-54) overall and were led by Terrence Hill, Jr., who came off the bench to supply 21 points and three assists. He was part of an effort of the bench for the Rams that owned a 43-23 advantage, with Ahmad Nowell adding 14. VCU had five finish in double figures, including a double-double from Lazar Djokovic with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Off the bench for Duquesne, Edwards contributed 10 points, four rebounds and an assist.
 
NOTES
VCU held a 33-25 advantage on the glass, including 10-6 in offensive caroms … The Rams outscored the Dukes, 18-5, in second chance points, while Duquesne earned a 38-34 edge in points in the paint while also outscoring the Rams, 23-12, on the break … Dixon contributed nine points, two steals and three blocks before fouling out with 4:43 to play … At the 16:32 mark of the second half and the Dukes down, 50-48, Duquesne was whistled for seven consecutive fouls that stretched until 11:38 was left … The Dukes finished 52.8 percent (28-of-53) from the field overall … Williams is averaging 17.1 points over the last 10 games while shooting 56 percent (61-for-109) from the floor … Duquesne is 7-0 when Guinyard has six or more assists, 2-6 when he has five dimes or less … The Dukes sported their alternate red uniform for the first time during the 2025-26 season.
 
UP NEXT
The Dukes head to Philadelphia, Pa., for a 7:00 p.m. tip against Saint Joseph's at Hagen Arena Wednesday, Jan. 7.
 
FOLLOW THE DUKES
For the latest news and information on Duquesne basketball, follow the Dukes on X and Instagram.