Duquesne Gets Win No. 18, Beats Saint Joseph’s 76-62

Saint Joseph’s Men’s Basketball Coach Billy Lange could not restrain himself as he prematurely retreated towards his locker room, before Duquesne’s Quincy McGriff powered home a slam dunk following a Jimmy Clark III steal.

This play was one of many highlights in a 76-62 Dukes victory over the Hawks Wednesday night at the UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse.

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Duquesne (18-8/8-5 Atlantic 10) was paced by Tevin Brewer’s 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Tre Williams scored 13 points and grabbed six rebounds. Dae Dae Grant contributed 10 points. Clark had eight points of his own, but his nine assists were a career high. The Dukes had five players achieve at least a +10 on the evening.

THATS 400 ASSISTS for BREWER!!! (MORE TO COME)

DUQ 6 SJU 2#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/dryxWPQu5Z

— Duquesne Basketball (@DuqMBB) February 16, 2023

As a team, Duquesne won the rebounding battle 34-29, fast break points 21-6, bench points 24-5 and paint 34-26.

This win is Duquesne’s 15th at home, one shy of a school record and the first time the Dukes have opened with four wins to start February since 1970-71.

Saint Joseph’s (13-13/7-7 A-10) saw Lynn Greer III lead all scorers with 22 points and drew nine fouls. Erik Reynolds II added 19 points, and Ejike Obinna 11 points.

Duquesne opened the contest on an 11-4 run as David Dixon provided a key bench spark in the run. First, he juggled the ball on a Clark pass, maintaining possession and converting an and-one play.

As Dixon maneuvered his way around the rim following a dunk, Lange spent his first timeout. Dixon would finish with seven points in four minutes, before going down with an injury.

@Da_loading with the STEAL and takes it COAST to COAST to make the AND ONE!!!

DUQ 34 SJU 22#GoDukes pic.twitter.com/1jdaeDg6LP

— Duquesne Basketball (@DuqMBB) February 16, 2023

An 8-0 Dukes run over 1:56 of game action only added to the advantage, which went over double digits. Duquesne had six assists on its first seven baskets, while the Hawks were contained to a single helper over the same period of time.

Duquesne owned significant first-half advantages over its opponents in bench points (19-0), fastbreak points (16-2) and steals (8-1).

Clark’s helper to McGriff was his sixth of the evening, breaking his previous career high which was achieved twice.

Duquesne owned a 39-24 edge at halftime.

Saint Joseph’s tried to be a more physical side and had the contest cut to 11 points, before the Dukes were able to exceed the Hawks effort.

The visitors took 21 free throws in the second half, making 17, but Duquesne made several spark plays shooting 51.9% from the field, including 75% from two-point range.

Duquesne will take to the road for the first time in two weeks, when it faces Saint Louis at 8 p.m. ESPN+ will carry this contest.