Sincere Carry’s Late Three Lifts Dukes Over GW, 66-61

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Duquesne’s Sincere Carry had been relatively quiet for most of Saturday’s game against George Washington, but when his team needed him the most, the sophomore guard delivered.

Carry drained a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:05 remaining, and the Dukes hung on to escape the nation’s capitol with a 66-61 victory. The win improved Duquesne to 14-2 overall and 4-0 in A-10 play for the first time since 2010-11.

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Carry’s three came moments after Jameer Nelson Jr.’s alley-oop dunk had briefly put the Colonials ahead, 61-60. Carry used a screen from Michael Hughes near the top of the key to gain separation and it was just enough to get off the shot. He finished with 11 points, all of them coming in the second half.

Duquesne’s defense clamped down over the final 2:23, holding the Colonials without a point the rest of the way.

It wasn’t quite the theatrics of last year’s overtime victory here for Duquesne but the Dukes had to work just as hard. Neither team led by more than six in the second half, and the teams traded the lead several times over the final five minutes.

The first half was very much a game of runs, with each team trading scoring spurts. After George Washington cut the Duquesne lead to 17-15, the Dukes surged behind consecutive 3-pointers from Maceo Austin and Tavian Dunn-Martin. Marcus Weathers’ alley-oop dunk in transition gave the visitors their largest lead at 30-19.

Then Jamison Battle caught fire. The Colonial freshman scored 11 of the game’s next 15 points, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer, to level the score at 32. It capped an 13-2 closing kick for George Washington and left Keith Dambrot shaking his head in disgust as the teams headed to their respective locker rooms.

Battle finished with a game-high 20 points but was a non-factor down the stretch due to foul trouble.

Duquesne overcame 17 turnovers and a poor shooting start. The Dukes shot just 39 percent in the opening frame but went 11 of 22 from the field after the break.

Marcus Weathers totaled 13 points, and Dunn Martin and Hughes each had 12 apiece.

The last three games played at the Smith Center between these two teams have now been decided by six points or less. Duquesne has won five straight against George Washington, including the last three on the road.

The Dukes return to Pittsburgh to host Fordham on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at PPG Arena. The Rams, who lost to St. Bonaventure 64-44 earlier Saturday afternoon, are still searching for their first A-10 victory.