Shorthanded Duquesne Beats Winthrop, 74-57, for Win No. 10

The Duquesne Men’s Basketball Team led wire-to-wire besting Winthrop 74-57 Wednesday afternoon at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.

Duquesne (10-3) was led by Dae Dae Grant’s 21 points and his eight assists matched a career high. Both Tre Clark and Quincy McGriff each recorded 15 points while Joe Reece and Tre Williams each grabbed seven rebounds.

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The Dukes also enjoyed 23-7 points off turnover advantage.

This win also matches the women’s team as the Dukes secured their first 10-win non-conference slate since the 2019-20 season.

Winthrop (5-8) saw Kelton Talford post a double-double with his 13-point, 11-rebound effort. Both Kasen Harrison and Cory Hightower posted 12-point performances.

Much like its female counterparts earlier in the day, Duquesne went on a game-changing run to open this game.

18:04 | THREEEEEE for @quincy_mcgriff

Duquesne 5, Winthrop 0#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/ExwT2Jsmh2

— Duquesne Basketball (@DuqMBB) December 21, 2022

Duquesne scored the game’s first 20 points, as Winthrop was held scoreless for 7:23 and did not make its first field goal until two minutes after that.

The Dukes were off to the races as Williams had two points, four rebounds and an assist two minutes into the game.

Duquesne’s momentum only continued as Clark had open space, but instead found Joe Reece for a transition hoop-and-harm score.

It was not until McGriff broke down his defender and buried a three-point shot, that Winthrop coach Mark Prosser opted to call a timeout. By that point, his Eagles trailed by 14 points.

That timeout would not deter Duquesne’s aggression as it only appeared to strengthen the intensity on both ends of the court.

1:04 | @DGrant_03 for 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 🎯

Duquesne 41, Winthrop 18#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/obrrXd7nep

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— Duquesne Basketball (@DuqMBB) December 21, 2022

Duquesne’s lead surged to 29-2 when Prosser watched Grant bury a three, and with his head down and shaking, he quietly used a second timeout.

That stoppage appeared to refocus Winthrop as Sin’Cere McMahon would drain a three-point field goal, as Duquesne battled foul trouble with multiple post players.

Duquesne was able to remain in control taking a 43-21 lead into the halftime break, shooting 51.6% from the field and 47.1% from three-point range. All nine players to see the court for the Dukes were able to grab at least one rebound.

Though both Tevin Brewer and Kareem Rozier were both scratched from today’s game, Duquesne still was able to churn out 10 assists on 16 made shots in the opening half.

16:46 | ALLEY-OOP to @TreClark_11

Duquesne 51, Winthrop 28#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/whiEV9w9I0

— Duquesne Basketball (@DuqMBB) December 21, 2022

McGriff opened Duquesne’s second-half scoring with a three-point basket off a quick Grant pass and when Austin Rotroff converted an and-one play on McGriff’s alley-oop pass, the Dukes quickly found the form that resembled its first-half efforts.

Winthrop did find some form and jump in its step, cutting its deficit to 13 points and with Hightower reminding his players that there was plenty of game left to make a comeback, but after the Eagles came up empty on the ensuing possession, Grant buried an open three-point shot.

9:01 | That's 6️⃣ 3's and counting for @DGrant_03

Duquesne 62, Winthrop 46#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/U0EoprMJlm

— Duquesne Basketball (@DuqMBB) December 21, 2022

Duquesne will start Atlantic 10 play in a week’s time when it travels to face Dayton next Wednesday at 7 p.m. in a broadcast carried by ESPN+.