Refs Play Big Role In Duquesne’s 65-61 Loss To Saint Bonaventure

MCCANDLESS TOWNSHIP, PA — In a physical contest which included a flagrant foul and several video reviews, the Duquesne men’s basketball team was unable to exact revenge on St. Bonaventure falling by a 65-61 score Saturday night at LaRoche University’s Kerr Fitness Center.

Duquesne (4-6, 3-5 A-10) saw Tavian Dunn-Martin scored 18 points. Michael Hughes recorded his second straight double-double with his 15 points and 12 rebounds. Marcus Weathers also achieved double figured with his 10 points.

Duquesne basketball on Pittsburgh Sports Now is sponsored by The Summit Academy: setting young men on the path to a better future.

St. Bonaventure (8-1, 6-1 A-10) was led by Kyle Lofton’s 17 points, 14 of which were scored in the first half. Dominick Welch added 14 points, Jalen Adaway recorded a double-double with his 12 points and 10 rebounds and Jaren Holmes added 8 points and 10 rebounds.

Duquesne controlled the first-half pace scoring the game’s first five points and clearly feeding off the momentum that was its second half Wednesday against Rhode Island.

The bench was energized in the early going as well and only became leader with each successive play.

Down five points after the first media timeout, St. Bonaventure began to round into form as the defense tightened up to the tune of Duquesne being held scoreless for 7:14 of game action.

Duquesne became tentative offensively hesitating on open looks and when it was able to find shots, they were unable to find any residence at the bottom of the rim.

St. Bonaventure made the most of this opportunity taking a 17-0 run and claiming a nine-point advantage in the process.

In an attempt to get back into the game, Duquesne was able to utilize the free-throw line and cut its deficit to four points, but the momentum was short lived as the Bonnies quickly tuned the pendulum in the other direction, specifically back to the nine-point advantage.

Down 10 with 3:11 remaining in the first half, after Chad Baker was called for a flagrant one foul, his third technical or flagrant in as many games, Duquesne rallied back.

Tyson Acuff’s transition layup with 43 seconds left placed Duquesne down by two and when the Bonnies fouled Dunn-Martin on a three-point shot attempt with two seconds remaining in the first half, the senior calmly sank all three shots placing the Dukes in the lead by a 32-31 count at halftime.

Duquesne opened up a five-point advantage as the second half began, though St. Bonaventure overcame that to reclaim the advantage.

Similar to the first meeting, Lofton came alive in the second half which allowed for the Bonnies to set the tempo.

With the game becoming a more physical affair, officials frequently reviewed plays on the monitor, stopping the contest in the process.

Up one after Dunn-Martin drilled a three-point shot, the officials called a foul against Duquesne as being non-shooting, which angered the St. Bonaventure bench and then called it good when relaying the play to the official scorer which angered Duquesne coach Keith Dambrot.

Dambrot became animated and repeatedly used the same expletive when talking to officials. Through his profanity, he was explaining that counting the basket was against the rule and as he articulated his point, Dunn-Martin and a couple of Duquesne staffers attempted to separate the fourth-year coach.

As Dambrot walked back to the huddle, his team applauded his efforts.

Duquesne was able to tie the contest at 55 before Adaway made a basket and was fouled. After completing a three-point play, Dunn-Martin attempted a three-point shot early in the shot clock and missed.

After Lofton missed a jumper, Adaway was left unattended and followed the shot with a dunk placing the Bonnies up by five. The play angered Dambrot who felt the ball was still on the cylinder.

Duquesne turned the ball over coming out of the timeout and St. Bonaventure used the clock.

Still down five, Weathers made a basket and after his free throw missed, the Bonnies were called for goaltending when Hughes put a shot up.

Adaway sank both free throws after being fouled and Hughes matched the score with one of his own, putting back Baker’s missed three-point shot attempt.

Lofton sank two more free throws and Duquesne labored offensively in getting a shot up and when it did, it fell off the mark securing St. Bonaventure’s victory.

Duquesne’s next contest is Wednesday at Fordham. Duquesne won the previous meeting this season by a 48-45 score.