Duquesne MBB Holds Off St. Bonaventure In Front Of Record Crowd

The Duquesne Men’s Basketball Team needed every second of Saturday afternoon’s contest, but it is able to come away with a 56-54 victory over St. Bonaventure in front of a UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse attendance record 3,333 fans.

Duquesne (17-8/7-5 Atlantic 10) was led by Dae Dae Grant’s 12-point, seven rebound effort and Jimmy Clark III put together 12 points as well. Kareem Rozier added 11 points of his own. The Dukes grabbed 15 steals on the afternoon, two shy of a program record. Duquesne also added 35 points off turnovers, 28 points in the paint and 23 fastbreak points.

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St. Bonaventure (13-13/7-5 A-10) saw Daryl Banks III pace the team with 15 points. Chad Venning scored 12 of his 14 points in the first half and also grabbing eight rebounds before fouling out in the final minute. Moses Flowers rounded out the trio of Bona players in double figures with his 10. St. Bonaventure committed a season high 25 turnovers in the setback.

The Bonnies opened this contest on a 9-2 run as Duquesne went scoreless over 3:20 and opened 0-for-8 on three-point shots. The Bonnies were able to continuously stump the Dukes on drives, waiting until the last possible moment to pass for a high-percentage layup.

Venning in particular had a standout first half making all six of his shots from the field in that first half.

Duquesne would go 5:04 of first-half action without making a field goal.

What kept Duquesne in the opening half was a combination of things. For starters, Rozier, the team’s leader was able to drive to the basket and earn an and-one play, that appeared to get the Dukes going and at +10 was the only player on either team to achieve a double-digit first half plus/minus.

St. Bonaventure had 13 turnovers in the first half and that allowed Duquesne to play at a consistent pace, especially critical for the Dukes since the Bonnies shot at a 60.9% clip in the first 20 minutes. This was evidenced by 23 of 27 opening-half points coming from turnovers.

Duquesne would briefly take the lead, before another scoreless lapse stunted the team’s momentum.

On one play, a Tevin Brewer lob came into a wide-open Austin Rotroff, who missed the dunk. On the other end, Anquan Hill converted an open top-of-the-key three-point basket, as coach Keith Dambrot spent a timeout.

Duquesne remained connected in transition and Rozier drew a late charge, but with one final chance at momentum heading into the locker room, the Dukes were unable to put up a shot, trailing 31-27 at halftime.

An 8-0 kick started the second half for the Dukes as St. Bonaventure was held without a basket for 5:44 of game action.

Duquesne had its troubles creating much separation and Dambrot was consistently critical of the officials, and at one point had to be restrained by multiple members of the coaching staff.

The Dukes led by as many as eight points in the second half but some stagnant offense down the stretch allowed St. Bonaventure back into the game.

Banks had the ball in his hand at the free throw line, when he intentionally missed his second shot, teammate Barry Evans grabbed the offensive rebound and after replay, his potentially game-tying putback attempt was waved off, securing Duquesne’s victory.

Duquesne will conclude its three-game homestand Wednesday against St. Joseph’s for a 7 p.m. tip as ESPN+ carries this broadcast.