Fairfax, Va. – Senior forward David Dixon converted in the paint with 40.1 seconds to go to snap a 65-65 tie as the Duquesne University men's basketball team earned a 71-65 triumph over George Mason Wednesday at EagleBank Arena. The Dukes improved to 13-10 (.565) overall during the 2025-26 season with the victory and evened their Atlantic 10 mark at 5-5 (.500) while snapping a 14-game home winning streak by the Patriots.
 
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
Riley Allenspach, who scored 13 of his team-high 18 points in the second half, gave George Mason a 65-61 advantage with a layup with 2:23 remaining, but Duquesne held the Patriots scoreless the rest of the game in closing on a 10-0 run to earn the victory. Forward Alex Williams was sent to the line for a pair and hit the back end to ignite the deciding burst, making it a one-possession game with 2:03 left. The Dukes followed by forcing an Allenspach turnover in the paint, and on the ensuing possession for Duquesne, redshirt junior guard Brandon Hall stepped into a three-pointer and buried it from the far wing to tie the contest for the sixth time, 65-65. Mason (20-3 | 8-2 Atlantic 10) called timeout, but the defensive pressure continued for the Dukes, with Kory Mincy getting off a rushed attempt from deep that missed the rim. A shot clock violation, Duquesne capitalized on the next possession, with Williams driving the lane and his layup attempt strong before Dixon grabbed the offensive rebound and converted.

QUOTABLE
"People talk about depth, and you really find out about your depth when you're up against it, whether it's when you have a guy down or a guy in foul trouble," head coach Dru Joyce III said. "You really get to understand who your team is and the different options you can rely on. It was a team effort. Guys stepped up in various ways. It took preparation, different alignments and getting guys ready to play. I'm proud of the discipline and the execution from everyone that checked into that game, because they handled their responsibility."  
 
START ME UP
Alex Williams, who earned his first start on the Bluff as well as the 18th of his NCAA Division I career, provided a lift for the Dukes, who were without a pair of starters. Williams scored a season-high 25 points, sealing the victory for Duquesne by going 4-for-4 at the free-throw line in the final 14 seconds. He finished 7-for-12 from the floor, including 2-of-5 from beyond the arc, while going 9-for-10 at the free-throw line in garnering game-high honors in scoring. It marked the most points for Williams in a game in over two years, when he finished with 26 against The Citadel as a member of the Furman men's basketball program Jan. 10, 2024. He also supplied the last four points of a 9-2 surge after George Mason grabbed its biggest lead, 58-50, and closed the Dukes to within 60-59 and set up the final flurry.

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"(Alex) presents so many matchups with his ability to attack from the perimeter or inside with his strength," Joyce III said. "He just has a will and a knack to score the basketball. We needed his points and we needed his free throws tonight. He was huge. He had to carry an even heavier load of minutes at the four position, and he was engaged and delivered one of his better defensive performances, too. That's what you expect out a player of his caliber. A veteran who has been through some tough battles. These were the moments that we thought we'd need from him when we recruited him, and I'm happy to see him deliver."  
 
BRICK BY BRICK
In addition to owning a perfect 14-0 home record entering the game, George Mason owned a record of 33-2 (.943) in Fairfax, Va., at home since the Patriots and Dukes last met at EagleBank Arena. Duquesne has also won seven consecutive in the all-time series against Mason as well as 10 of the last 11 meetings.  
 
NOTES
Duquesne used its fourth different starting lineup of the 2025-26 season Wednesday against George Mason … The start for Alex Williams was three days shy of his first in two years, as his last starting assignment came in his final of three years at Furman, when he scored 15 points for the Paladins at Mercer Feb. 7, 2024 … Jimmie Williams, who extended his streak of consecutive games in double figures to 18 in the win with 13 points, is the only member of the Dukes to start all 23 games this year … Dixon contributed 13 points, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks … Duquesne wore its home white uniforms for the first time in a road game this year … The Dukes posted 13 steals, including a career-high five from Hall … Duquesne shot 49 percent (25-for-51) from the field.
 
UP NEXT
The Dukes return to UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse Saturday, Feb. 7, for a 2:00 p.m. tip against George Washington.
 
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